By Mark Baber
June 26 – Talks between the A-League and Professional Players Australia (PFA) have broken down with the Football Federation Australia (FFA) bosses accusing players of putting the future of the League in jeopardy and the PFA considering legal and industrial action.
The current pay deal expires on June 30 and as things stand there is nothing to replace it, with the major sticking point being over the A-League salary cap as the FFA sticks to a salary cap of $2.55 million per club for the first two years of a proposed 6-year deal.
PFA chief executive Adam Vivian said: “This proposal would represent six consecutive years of restraint. The players are committed to negotiating in good faith and have not shut the door on resuming the negotiations.
“As it stands for the first time in seven years the players will not enjoy the protections of the CBA [collective bargaining agreement] and the players will now consider their legal and industrial options.”
In a statement the FFA responded saying: “The PFA executive has today walked away from an agreement that would have delivered the biggest remuneration and the longest period of certainty for players in the history of the A-League.”
“In doing so, the PFA has gratuitously verballed the club owners whose personal investment in the competition guarantees the employment of 230 professional players.
“FFA and the A-League clubs have worked diligently to build a stable and sustainable national competition, but today the PFA executive has put self-interest ahead of the good of the game.”
Negotiations have proven difficult due to the financial difficulties of clubs such as Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets as well as uncertainty about the value of broadcast rights – with a new TV deal yet to be negotiated.
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