Historic pay deal to close football’s gender pay gap

Details of a historic deal between the Football Federation Australia (FFA) and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) to close the pay gap between Australia’s national soccer teams, the Socceroos and the Matildas, have been released.

History.

A new landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement has been struck to close the pay gap between @TheMatildas and the @Socceroos.#WeAreMatildashttps://t.co/4kZIe5G32D

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) November 5, 2019

The new 3-tiered centralised contract system will see Australia’s top female footballers receive the same annual remuneration as the top Socceroos.

The 4-year deal will see the Socceroos and Matildas receive a 24% share of an agreed aggregate of National Team Generated Revenues in 2019/20, rising by 1% each year of the 4-year deal.

From within this 24%, the players will commit a 5% share of National Team Generated Revenue to reinvest in Australian Youth National Teams, guaranteeing a minimum level of investment in future generations of Socceroos and Matildas.

Sarah Walsh, a former Matilda and the FFA’s head of game development, said it is momentous.

“FFA, the PFA and all the players are proud to be leading the way in delivering real gender equality within the game we love,” Walsh said. “This agreement is the product of generations of Matildas and their supporters advocating for real change. This moment belongs to all of them as well.”

Speaking on Radio National on Wednesday morning Walsh said she is particularly heartened by the way the male players and team supported the move towards equity.

"It's important to acknowledge that the men's side of the game, the Caltex @Socceroos in particular, have made a choice to share the revenue across the game with their female counterparts."

– @FFA CEO David Gallop pic.twitter.com/LBeO8B53DP

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 5, 2019

The deal reflects a determination to address issues of gender equity in the game and build a sustainable financial model that rewards players as revenue increases.

A day almost a century in the making. #WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/UkRoA0yXOL

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) November 5, 2019

Under the new CBA, players are entitled to 40% of prize money on qualifying for a FIFA World Cup, representing an increase from 30%. That share of prize money increases to 50% if they progress to the knockout stage of the competition.