Socceroos, Matildas take legal action against Football Australia

File photo: As part of a collective bargaining agreement signed in 2023, the national team players receive a share of FA’s national team revenues. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Australian men’s and women’s football teams have taken legal action against Football Australia (FA) regarding a dispute over a revenue-sharing agreement between the players and the governing body.

The Australian Associated Press on Tuesday reported that the players’ union — Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) — is pursuing a seven-figure sum on behalf of the Socceroos and Matildas.

The central issue is believed to surround FA’s commercial deals and whether players are getting a fair share of the revenues.

As part of a collective bargaining agreement signed in 2023, the players receive a share of FA’s national team revenues. Any money earned from ticketing, broadcast or sponsorship makes its way back into players’ pockets, while registration fees or sponsors for junior participation programs are strictly off-limits.

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The players receive an 18-20 per cent cut of all relevant commercial arrangements, and there are also incentives to encourage them and the FA to work together. But the players feel they are not getting their fair share, with the PFA launching legal action in the NSW Supreme Court on their behalf.

The governing body said that it was aware of the PFA’s NSW Supreme Court legal action. However, in a statement, it noted that the issue was related to “a third party in connection with a separate matter currently being conducted before the National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC).”

“The Supreme Court’s role is limited to the subpoena process, and its involvement ends once that process is complete. As the NDRC matter is ongoing and subject to confidentiality obligations, Football Australia will not comment further,” an FA spokesperson said.