Suddenly, Australia is leading the world in the fight for equal pay between male and female footballers.
In an extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement launched today, W-League footballers will earn the same minimum hourly-rate as their A-League counterparts, which will represent roughly an increase of a third on their annual salaries.
It comes after months of negotiating between the governing body, Football Federation Australia (FFA) and the player’s representative body, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and takes advantage of an ongoing stoush over governance of both leagues.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that female football is basking in the glow of its greatest ever spotlight, as the Matildas list among the favourites for the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
But for the PFA, this landmark agreement is just one of the battles it takes to win the war. FFA are very small fish compared to the players’ next target, FIFA.
Three days ago, the PFA launched its campaign for prize money equity between the men’s and women’s World Cups. The women at this year’s tournament in France will earn just 7.5 per cent of the total prizepool awarded to sides at the 2018 World Cup.
The disparity is so great between FIFA’s reported bank balance of over $2.75 billion and the $5.8 million allocated for the women’s World Cup that FIFA’s two highest executives, president Gianni Infantino and general secretary Fatma Samoura, earn more in combined annual wages.
PFA’s campaign, launched out of frustration at over a year of failed private negotiations with FIFA, is publicly backed by the Matildas squad and places Australian football as a frontrunner of the growing push for equality among the world’s strongest female sides.
“It is the players themselves who are the victims of the discrimination,” PFA executive John Didulica Didulica said.
“The PFA expressly reserves the rights of the players to have this matter resolved through appropriate means including mediation and arbitration. There is no legal, economic or practical reason why this cannot occur after the tournament.”
The campaign was immediately picked up by the global player representatives, FIFPro, who said they were determined to support the PFA’s campaign.
“FIFA has agreed to our request to start negotiating new conditions for women’s national team players after the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and we are determined to making real and lasting progress on behalf of the (Matildas).”
The W-League decision comes after the reigning World champions, the United States, sued their own governing body for pay discrimination and the world’s best female footballer, Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg, announced she wouldn’t be playing in the World Cup due to the treatment of female football.
Hergerberg was infamously asked to ‘twerk’ at the award ceremony.
These are black marks on an otherwise lucrative publicity boost for FIFA, with the showpiece competition securing record broadcast deals and demand for tickets so high that the World Cup final sold out in less than half an hour.
But it’s a sign of what’s to come as women’s football surges towards levels of popularity unseen in female sport.
IAP
Guest
In answer to your last question, it's because it can't survive on its merits. Ever seen the size of the crowds for W-League games? The standard is amateur level, the crowds are amateur level, and the only reason behind paying them like professionals is because they are women. In this age of feelings over logic and reason that's all that matters.
IAP
Guest
There's never been a law that says women can't play footy. The VFLW has been around for almost 40 years anyway. Stop making stuff up Waz. If you have to lie to make a point then your point isn't valid.
IAP
Guest
No-one has ever stopped them from starting their own competitions; no-one has ever stopped them from lobbying for sponsors and TV deals. It's easy to blame "discrimination" and men, but the fact of the matter is that they've been waiting around for decades for the blokes to do it for them.
IAP
Guest
The standard of women's soccer is still terrible, and the stadiums in their biggest tournament are still half empty. The women will deserve as much as the blokes when they put on a spectacle that's as good as the blokes.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
Dreary...that's an under statement. It's a friendly...so why not experiment....play attacking Football. Who cares if the other team score. It's games like this that have transpired into the a-League. Just look at the completely unentertaining GF. By the way, Nemesis, you're are so boring. Imagine if you were on the FFA board, what an even quicker death the game would have here.
stu
Guest
Lion heart.....I think the debate is getting stuck in the agreed need for one male and one female doing the same job for the SAME business being paid the same. What is not being recognised, and the real crux of this debate is that when 2 companies each employ individuals of same skill set will be paid relative to the profitability of each company, select what ever gender you wish to work with whatever company, great chance one is paid less. That's market forces. Right now, if I watch the male and female game, one is more skilful than the other, the facts back up more interest in the male game. Greater interest generally means more income. The male players therefore should be paid more. Become an employer looking at his balance sheet and make the case why ladies should be paid the same as men.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate but I wasn't referring to you. I should've realised it wouldn't appear directly under his post.
stu
Guest
Rowdy....you may need to read my post again. I did not say it is legal. I did highlight that no 2 companies will pay an accountant the same money. Then I placed one man with one company and one woman with the other. The gender can be reversed. Point is, the profitability of a company will largely drive renumeration.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The Guardian is new age journalusm where logic is not a pre-requisite, in fact, it is an impediment their a gender (sic)
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
That’s not true about equal pay. I’ve been working since ’76 and I’ve never worked in a job where its legal to pay a woman less than a man. —- The pay gap comes about through differences in jobs. I’d imagine all would understand why a miner gets paid more than a child care worker? I’ll highlight one aspect that makes a big difference. How likely are you to die doing child care work compared to mining. Plus other strenuous conditions that miners tolerate compared to that of a CCW. —- Also women spend time out having babies and there ain’t nothing a man or woman can do about that. —- Equal opportunity does not necessarily relate to equity of outcome. —- The highest differences in remuneration is the very top, executives, etc, where 99.9% of women are precluded. By the same token, 95% of men can’t get those jobs either. —- The Pay Gap is a Socialist myth.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Earnings parity between men and women is not going to happen anytime soon. I've seen Men's 3rd Division State Soccer which is better than Women's WC. ---- Women's sport, as a spectator experience, is not the same as men. I would never pay to watch women play any sport. It's my prerogative. ---- Why, in a Capitalist society, are we trying to implement Socialism when it comes to Women's sport?
con
Guest
EQUAL PAY NO WAY THEY ARE NOT EAQUAL TO MAN ,THEY CANT PUT THREE PASSES TOGETHER AND CANT DRBB;E THE BALL WOMENS FOTTBALL IS IN ITS INFANT DAYS STILL LET THEM LEARN THE GAME THE PASSION AND TOUGHEN UP ,NO WAY EQUAL PAY
stu
Guest
Waz....let's re-organise your argument. If one male and one female accountants work for the same company doing the same function....bingo, you are correct. If the same male accountant works for company A and paid more than the female at company B, that's our free market. Male and Female soccer players do not work in a combined, competitive league matching skill for skill. I see no reason why they can't be classed as working for company A and B in as much as one attracts mor interest and profitability than the other.
stu
Guest
Was....I take your angle on board that due to circumstances in the past, the authorities should make amends and bank roll the women's game. So now they are on, or at least moving to parity in conditions. I personally am struggling to see parity on the field and I am not sure you can then fall back on 50 years in the wilderness as being the reason why. What is out there that would encourage me as a punter the attend a ladies game rather than a men's game?
stu
Guest
You gave the reason under specific circumstances. I think the discussion is correctly based on which provides the better entertainment. Which is more technically appealing and as a result which generates the greatest interest and revenue. As individuals we can only view and make that judgement. It seems the majority accept that the men's game ticks the boxes above. The alternative is always a valid comment.
Beni Iniesta
Guest
Waz. Explain then why Men's Tennis is bigger than Women's Tennis? They've been played SIDE-BY-SIDE ever since Tennis entered the Open Era in 1969 at the Grand Slams. SIDE-BY-SIDE. Explain the differing level of interest then?
elvis
Roar Rookie
I take it you didn't read or understand the comment I was replying to tongue in cheek. If making jokes about socialism is too deep for you then don't be a goose and reply.
chris
Guest
Seriously elvis...don't watch. You'd be the first to whine and carry on how women arent as powerful, arent as quick blah blah blah.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
?????????????????????????
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
On a better hourly rate.