A new four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and FFA (Football Federation Australia) is being hailed as a landmark agreement for Women’s Football which aims to narrow the pay gap between male and female professional footballers.

The new agreement includes several key features and covers the senior national teams of men and women.

Key features of the new agreement include:

  • A new revenue-sharing model designed to reduce the pay gap between the Matildas and the Socceroos. Under this model, revenue generated by both the Socceroos and Matildas through broadcasting, merchandising, sponsorship and match days, will be pooled together. Nineteen per cent of the pool will be split equally between the Matildas and the Socceroos. That will increase by 1 per cent each year until the end of the CBA in 2023.
  • The Matildas and Socceroos have agreed to a further 5 per cent of the revenue pool to be re-invested in the National Youth teams.
  • Under the new CBA, the players will take home a greater share of the tournament prize money for qualifying for the World Cup and Asian Cup, and also an increased share of the prize moneys the Federation receives for the teams qualifying for the knockout phases of both tournaments.
  • FFA’s Parental Leave Policy will be reviewed to provide more support for Matildas during pregnancy and during their return to the national team following pregnancy.
  • Under the CBA, the Matildas will receive identical resourcing as the Socceroos for high performance set-ups and also access to business class flights for international games.
  • The new CBA provides increased funding to the PFA for its Player Development Program to help provide enhanced player well-being and development support to it national team players.
  • The CBA will allocated 0.5 per cent of the national teams pooled revenue to the PFA’s Football Trust fund which helps to fund Australia’s Cerebral Palsy National teams.

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The new CBA is being hailed as a landmark in addressing the large pay disparity between men and women in football. Whilst this continues at the domestic club level in Australia and around the world, at least it ensures greater equity on the national team front. For instance, the Socceroos get most of their earnings from the game from their club contracts, however the Matildas earn much less that their male counterparts from club contracts, because of the reduced commercial revenues associated with the women’s domestic club football. The new CBA represents a concerted move towards pay equity, beginning at the national team level, ensuring that both national teams get an equal slice of the pie generated by the national teams.

It provides the possibility of a greater financial security for those female players aspiring to play the game at the highest level.

Commenting on the new CBA announced on Wednesday, FFA Chairman, Chris Nikou said, “Football is the game for everyone, and this new CBA is another huge step toward ensuring that we live the values of equality, inclusivity and opportunity.

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“For the first time, player remuneration will be directly tied to the revenues generated by our National Teams – this will create a sustainable financial model that incentivises players and FFA to collaborate and grow the commercial pie together.

“This is truly a unique agreement. Every national team, from the Socceroos and Matildas, down to the Youth National Teams as well as the Cerebral Palsy National Teams have been contemplated in this new CBA.

“With this CBA, the next generation of aspiring Australian kids can see a pathway that offers a sustainable career, a chance to be an Olympian, and the lure of playing at a FIFA World Cup – regardless of your gender. It means whether you are a male or female, the value football places on your jersey is no different. We are proud to break this new ground in Australian and world sport.”

PFA Chief Executive John Didulica also welcomed the agreement.

“This is a unique deal in world football and we believe sets the model for all federations and players – male and female – who can take the game to unlock the incredible social and commercial opportunity that, in particular, women’s football presents.”

The deal is based on the principles of partnership, equality and investment. The players of today are investing in the future of Australian football because they believe in the game and they believe in each other.”