Adelaide United forward Bruce Djite has warned Football Federation Australia of mass A-League player dissatisfaction over its failed pay deal.
Djite, who represented players during the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks, says “not one player” supported FFA’s deal and A-League players were preparing to do what it takes to improve it.
“For me and the players, for the good of the game, for fans, for everyone, it’s better with a CBA because everyone has bought in and they’re going in the same direction,” he told AAP.
“(We need to) go back to the negotiating table.
“We’re going to look at all our legal avenues, all our industrial avenues to get (FFA) back to the negotiating table.”
Talks for a new pay deal included 23 meetings across six months but broke down on the eve of the previous CBA’s expiry on June 30.
Both camps hoped to include the A-League, Socceroos and Matildas in a new six-year deal but could not agree on future A-League player payments.
FFA say the deal is the “best ever offer for players in the history of Australian football and comes at a time when FFA is balancing the growth of the game with the sustainability of all A-League clubs”.
Professional Footballers Australia, representing the players, say initial and pledged future player payments aren’t up to scratch.
Djite said the final offer was “extremely disappointing”, and players had voiced their disapproval.
“We had a teleconference of 50-plus players and everyone was on the same page,” he said.
“Not one player said it was reasonable.
“Revenues continue to rise but they’re wanting to freeze the cap for the next two seasons and potentially a third depending on broadcast rights, it’s unbelievable.”
He accused FFA on backtracking on their word two years ago when their arguments for wage restraint were based on improvement in the future.
The previous two-year deal included rises of one and two per cent in each year.
Djite stopped short of calling the current offer a broken promise, but said it was time players shared in the growing wealth around the game.
“Two years ago, FFA went on about the state of the game, how precarious it is out there for owners,” he said.
“They were saying in two years we’ll be in a much better position, we’ll come to you with a much better offer.
“I cannot sell this proposal to my teammates because it’s not a good deal.”
Djite, who earned nine Socceroo caps while playing for Turkish side Genclerbirligi, also claimed A-League boss Damien de Bohun was enraged by the PFA’s decision to turn their offer down.
“He was very agitated and stormed out,” he said.
“Damien is a cool, calm collected guy generally but it went out the window … he just left in a child’s tantrum, because it was clear the deal wasn’t going to get done.”
Djite kept club owners out of his sights, saying they were “key stakeholders” who deserved support.
His comments come after Adelaide chairman Greg Griffin, who represented clubs in the talks, claimed A-League clubs would fall over if additional money went towards player payments.
AR
Guest
Au contraire Fussball, I don't attack personalities as you ironically allege, but do examine the *content* of what people post. And above, I did add meaningfully to the discussion, but despite being "an intelligent adult who is keen on data analysis" you misread my post completely. Hope that clarifies.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
As usual, you are unable to add any meaningful insight to any discussion on football. At least MF has the intellectual rigour to add his insights to football discussion. But, you? You're completely vacuous. All you do is attack personalities & then you have the temerity to whine "play the ball, not the man".
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I had a conversation with a WSG director at a recent function & he informed me WSG has nothing to do with ALeague broadcast rights in Australia. WSG does, indeed, onsell the ALeague rights in foreign countries. I repeat: Other than meaningless friendlies, which are usually broadcast in the middle of the night, the FFA doesn’t own TV rights to National Team matches. So they can’t sell something they don’t own. Even the most optimistic football fan, like myself, would not put a $1m price tag on the TV rights for AUS National Team friendlies played overseas. And, my research into this issue indicates only TV rights for friendlies played in Australia can be sold by FFA. TV rights for friendlies played overseas are owned by the nation that hosts the event and, by convention, the host nation provides the free TV rights to the opposing nation.
AR
Guest
You won't find much traction citing Bonita Mersiades with Fussball, MF. Notwithstanding his becoming the recent champion of women everywhere, Fuss has long regarded Bonita as merely a bitter disgruntled ex-employee.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
1. Those meaningless friendlies have some value which you'd think would have to be a least $1 mill per annum. 2. As for the rest, this is precisely the point: what has the FFA included exactly in coming to the headline $40 mill per annum figure? It's worthwhile recalling that prior to the announcement of the deal Bonita Mersiades expected the TV rights deal for the A-League to be $40 mill per annum on its own, with the international rights being valued as high as $20 million per annum. Bonita actually wrote an article at the time predicting a total annual value of $60 milll. In the end, it was $40 mill all up. it's instructive to check out Bonita's tweets from the time, and I quote: “In summary: it’s good, better than ever before; but some smoke & mirrors & isn’t as good as it could have been. ” “…but it’s not what it sounds because it’s not comparing like with like, digital and contra included, as are fees….Not to mention the $4m pa for WSG. That leaves $33m. ” That's Bonita's best estimate based on the information available, but one thing is for sure: once the FFA pays the 10 A-League clubs $2.5 million per annum to cover the salary cap, or $25 mill per annum in total, there ain't a whole lot left over, especially if the FFA has had to pay an annual spotter's fee out of the money.
AR
Guest
Given you're obviously a very "intelligent adult", perhaps you should read my post again and see I was talking about TV ratings.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Of course I expect your shoddy analysis. The fact that the average crowd in 2014/15 was HIGHER after 50% of the season (14 matches for each team) than in 2013/14, but ... the 2nd half of the season was LOWER in 2014/15 for the remaining 13 matches than 2013/14 would lead an intelligent adult who is keen on data analysis to investigate whether something occurred after R14 in the 2014/15 season that did not occur in 2013/14 and could this event have sapped the energy, finances & emotions from a small portion of fans to account for the drop off in crowds. In financial analysis we look for "abnormal" or "extraordinary" events to ensure we always compare like with like. There will be no abnormal or extraordinary event in 2015/16 season so let's see how this coming season compares with 2013/14 when we didn't have any Asian Cup.
j binnie
Guest
Fuss -I take umbrage at the last point you made.Please do not join these other people who read a line and form an opinion.I was not posting a doom and gloom scenario simply stating figures that point to a trend that is in existence over the last season, one that I am sure we all hope will be reversed in the coming season. I would be in 7th heaven if EVERY club in the HAL lifted their average crowd by 4000 per game as Victory did this year,but I am also a realist and KNOW that that is just not going to happen.In your mind that may be doom and gloom thinking but to me it is a challenge being thrown down to the FFA and the clubs to do everything in their power to ensure we get back on to the upward trend.Cheers once again jb
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"Players are surely big and ugly enough …with the help of trusted individual advisors ….to look after their own interests" You obviously have never been an employer if you don't understand the concept of "collective bargaining" & the immense power of a group of workers negotiating with an employer, compared to the impotent power of a single worker negotiating with a boss.
AR
Guest
"What happened? The league season was interrupted by a once-in-a-lifetime event..." Perhaps, but the same dip in ratings happened the previous year, and the one before that, without the once in a lifetime event. If I recall correctly, average Pay TV ratings across the past 3 ALeague seasons (starting from 2012/13) have trended down - from approx. 77k to 67k to 62k. This isn't doom and gloom, and most sporting competitions have a 'softening' period after the season launch, but to claim last season's overall dip in crowds and ratings was due solely to a "a once-in-a-lifetime event" is not supported by the evidence from previous years.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"because that figure actually includes an amount for a range of socceroo matches." Other than meaningless friendlies, which are usually broadcast in the middle of the night, the FFA doesn't own TV rights to National Team matches. So they can't sell something they don't own. World Sports Group owns the TV rights to every competitive match played by AUS - at any level - within the Asian Confederation. Fifa owns the TV rights to every competitive match played by AUS - at any level - during Fifa tournaments. WSG pays FFA US$1 million for every competitive match played by the AUS senior team within the Asian Confederation.
At work
Roar Rookie
Thanks for pointing it out, although just checked and it's Everton vs Stoke at 7:50. Arsenal play the Singapore select XI at 10:20pm
Bondy
Guest
By the way Arsenal are playing an Invitational Singapore squad tonight Fox Sports Ch5 7.50 ...
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Actually, it's even worse than what is suggested by the $35 mill per annum, because that figure actually includes an amount for a range of socceroo matches. It's unclear what the true value of the A-League rights are when the figure is completely unpacked, but I don't think there's much change after covering the present $25 mill per annum salary cap.
Bondy
Guest
Thanks Fuss an enjoyable read. Midfielder will love that link . _________________ What Bruce must realise is trust we've never been in a position of trust in football whether it be the old Socc Aus or FFA we must trust the governing body more so over any other riding issue ....
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"ask the world, we seem to enjoy it …even in straya… " Impossible to prove that La Liga, EPL, Bundesliga, etc. would be less enjoyable if the competitions were salary capped. In fact the most watched football tournament on the planet involves a highly regulated market - the World Cup is not a free-market competition. As an Aussie who has watched English & European football from the 1970s to current, I much preferred the competitions when the leagues were more even - albeit without a Salary Cap, but with highly regulated labour markets that prevented free movement of players across borders.
nordster
Guest
'does it really?' ask the world, we seem to enjoy it ...even in straya... :) A tiered, open playing field vs a closed, even playing field? Football overwhelmingly embraces the former....
At work
Roar Rookie
Thanks Fuss, pretty good (and easy to read) report. - 15th most attended football league in the world is ok. Sometimes we Australian's need to ignore the freakish attendance that the AFL and stop comparing oursleves to them (in this regard at least). - Our memberships have been growing very strongly; 81% over the past 4 years! - The avergae TV audience for the W-League seems high
Big Vern
Guest
"works well for the best football leagues on the planet" - does it really? As you say, ' condenses the best talent at the top clubs", I would say wealthiest clubs. It works brilliantly for those clubs, a self perpetuating revenue loop of high league positions & Champions League, enabling them to outspend their lesser rivals. Only a few clubs in any league with a genuine chance of winning anything, the rest battling for scraps or to avoid relegation. If you don't happen to have any geographical or emotional ties to these over-inflated few, where's the joy? Sure, I can admire their talent & football, as I can admire the way Germany plays, but it will never be the same as having skin in the game.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Haven't had a chance to read it yet, but the FFA has just released a 28 page report on the 5 leagues & competitions it administers in Australia. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/dct/ffa-dtc-performgroup-eu-west-1/FFA%20Leagues%202014-15%20Season%20Report_1t86gtaieg684189pouj0m3o5y.pdf