Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers Australia remain at loggerheads over the new collective bargaining agreement, just one day before the current one expires.
Head of the A-League Damien de Bohun has bristled at suggestions by PFA president and current Socceroo Matt McKay that FFA is trying to freeze the A-League salary cap and hit back at the accusations levelled against the body in a strongly worded statement on Monday.
“Over the life of the A-League, the salary cap has increased by an average of more than 7 per cent each year, and there is scope for a further 12 per cent uplift next season,” said de Bohun.
“It’s not just about the salaries, as the CBA proposal provides greater flexibility for clubs in retaining players and invests in players’ well-being.
“Any suggestion that there has been, or will be, a salary freeze is simply not accurate.
“Over the past three years A-League players have received a 13 per cent increase in total payments, while at the same time most clubs have continued to run operating deficits and also invest heavily in upgraded facilities, youth development programs, and improving conditions for players.”
The response came after McKay on Friday slammed FFA, the A-League and the clubs over their resistance to acquiesce to the PFA’s salary requests.
At the crux of the matter seems to be the PFA’s desire to see regular squad players get better and more stable financial deals from their contracts in the rapidly improving league.
On Friday McKay accused that FFA of taking away from players at a time when they should be getting more, indicating player demands must be met if the new CBA was to be signed off on.
“FFA’s insistence on freezing the cap and making cuts to the pay of the Socceroos comes at a time when the game is generating record revenue and follows four years of wage restraint,” McKay said in a statement.
“It will simply see player pay fall below what the game can afford which, in turn, will undermine the competitiveness of Australian football and the attractiveness of the A-League.
“At the heart of the negotiations is a simple requirement that the players receive a fair and equitable share of the revenue generated by the professional game, which must be contractually provided for in the new CBA.”
PFA declined to comment on the statement issued by Football Federation Australia on Monday evening.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
They are the lucky few. I am sure there are countless others who have had less than 8-12 years. I will stand by those numbers, its not as ridiculous as you think. Most footballers wouldnt go past 32-33 years of age.
Batou
Guest
Tigranes, most people get their degree or trade qualifications coming out of school with basically nothing so I can't see how it would be any worse for a retired pro footballer with savings from their playing career in the piggy bank. RBBA, if the average A-league player is earning $125k a year (your numbers) then it doesn't matter if they earn a bit less at the start and a bit more later on, they will have 15 or so years of earning approximately 3 times the median adult Australian wage. They still get paid while injured by the way, until the end of their contract at least. I started looking at the career length of the 2006 Socceroos World Cup squad (because most of them are retired now). It took longer than I thought but here is a start: 1. Schwarzer: 25y (still going apparently) 2. Neill: 19 years 3. Moore: 16 years 4. Cahill: 17 years (still going) 5. Culina: 17 years (but missed a few of those years uncontracted due to injury) 6. Popavic: 19 years 7. Emerton: 18 years 8. Skoko: 17 years 9. Viduka: 16 years 10. Kewell: 18 years .... I think you get the idea. Of course some don't last as long as these guys, but if they don't they can start another career. Your assertion that pro footballers have a maximum career of 8-12 years is just ridiculous
RBBAnonymous
Guest
The juniors are earning minimums or are on youth contracts. Again peanuts for a professional player. Very few 17-20 year olds are earning what you are suggesting. Furthermore there are very few players who have had 15 year careers in football. Then you have to consider injuries, out of form and their you go 8-10 year career if you are lucky.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yes, MVFC is unique with the shareholding spread across a wide number of people. The last I heard there were over 25 shareholders with a stake in MVFC.
Tigranes
Guest
Melbourne Victory ownership structure is a bit more wide spread than most of the other clubs, I think they have 10 different shareholders. The benefit of this is that the fortunes of the club are not tied to one owner's fortunes (e.g. the Jets suffered when Tinkler's house of cards fell apart). Maybe FFA/HAL should be encouraging similar ownership structures. I would think this is logical. Wasn't there a Wanderers players who had to give up playing because he said financially he was better off working for an accounting firm (he had a degree, etc) than being a full time professional soccer player? Can you imagine a young bloke on the books of Everton or Liverpool saying the same thing? Things are going to get tougher in the job markets, one has to look at Greece (massive youth unemployment), and getting set up in a new career at say 30 (including get qualifications, etc) isn't the lay down that you make it out to be. If they are smart with the money they are earning, conceivably they could invest and establish ventures...but the general money blokes are getting in the HAL Im not so sure.
Batou
Guest
I'd guess that the reason Melbourne Victory's finances are in better shape than the smaller clubs has as much to do with the fact that they are based in one of the two biggest cities in Australia (which also has a culture of attending live sport and aa large base of football fans) as it did with their professional administration. Also in my experience, having financial breathing space in any business allows stable and professional cultures to thrive whereas constant financial pressure leads to an ongoing series of short term fixes that can often cause continued pressure in the medium term. As for the teenagers coming straight out of school and earning *only* $80k or $100k a year, well they can cry me a river mate. The argument that they only have a 15 year career (no idea where you got 8-12 max from) doesn't wash either. They can do something else once they finish playing football, just like most Australians who switch careers several times over their working life.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Clubs like Melbourne Victory are able to pay players on time as are WSW, Sydney FC and Adelaide. There are no excuses. Do you actually believe De Bohun, seriously. In terms of cash in hand, players wages have not gone up, he is being disingenuous here. My question to you is, why are clubs in trouble? Is it because of wage demands and because they are excessive or is it because football departments are spending money in other areas and in most cases being reckless with funds. Football administrators need to be more responsible with running their clubs, when they are, they can be as successful as a club like Melbourne Victory, who I admire for running such a tight ship. As for the players they aren't on that much if you consider how much effort and skill it takes to become a professional footballer. It is amusing to listen to people claiming that footballers are on 125,000 average salary. That may be the average but most footballers in the A-league would make about 80,000 - 100,000. The average is brought up by those few footballers whose wages go to 200-250k. Considering a footballers life is only 8-12 years max, that's peanuts.
Batou
Guest
So you are upset that some clubs can't afford to meet their current liabilities, including player wages, but you also want them to give the players a pay rise which will make it even harder for them to do so. Also your claim of players not having a pay rise doesn't match de Bohun's claims. Something isn't stacking up here. Furthermore, what makes the players deserve a pay rise? They aren't playing more matches, bringing in more revenue or doing anything else to increase their value compared to last year. I'm sorry but they just sound like a bunch of princesses complaining about getting paid very well to play football and demanding more from clubs which can't afford it.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I think the FFA are the ones playing hardball here. The players have not had a wage rise and the A-league has grown. What is desperately needed are football administrators who know how to be responsible and be good stewards of their clubs. They are effectively stealing players money and in some cases not paying wages on time or not at all. This money is effectively set aside to PAY THE PLAYERS and gives them some guarantee. It is embarrassing that this is not happening. If not for the PFA clubs would be able to do as they please. That would include not paying players for months like they do in many European leagues. That is not on. Good on the PFA. No pay no play.
nordster
Guest
On behalf of people on a non voluntary basis ....why does the PFA even have the right to regulate on behalf of anyone who might want to become a professional footballer? At least with an agent or manager u sign on and get represented individually. Unions in football are unnecessary to the extent of collective wage deals. There is no need for it. There are a bunch of players outside the HAL system that are priced out of the league by things like the minimum wage for example, squad sizes, wage floors etc The economics of the whole football "pyramid" in australia needs deregulating...sadly there is a void in the middle of that structure between the base of the NPL and the disconnected top tier.
Davo
Guest
The PFA once again playing hard ball. Trying to squeeze clubs out that are already running on losses.