Australian women’s football is currently on an upward trajectory in terms of popularity, growth and development. Recently, the Matildas, Australia’s national women’s football team, currently ranked 6th in the world, defeated the world champion USA team for the first time and almost 250,000 women and girls participate in women’s football in Australia. On the back of this upward curve, a new landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has been signed between Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), W-League clubs (Australian women national league clubs) and the Football Federation Australia (FFA). This is the complete turnaround in Australian women football is compelling, as just a few years ago Australia’s women footballers were embroiled in a wage dispute that saw the Matildas go on strike for a better pay deal and conditions.
The disparity between the money and conditions of male and female players is a topical issue in football generally. For instance, a new agreement between Norway’s football association and the country’s international players will lead to men and women receiving the same financial compensation for representing their country, with the men making a financial contribution to the women’s team. In contrast, Denmark’s national women team recently cancelled a home women’s friendly against Holland due to a dispute over money.[1]
This makes the terms of the new landmark CBA all the more significant as this is a watershed moment for women football in Australia and raises the standards and opportunities for all aspiring women football players.
Features of the new collective bargaining agreement
The new...
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