The recent on-field success of the Qantas Socceroos and the Westfield Matildas has been reflected off the field with the finalization of new collective bargaining agreements this week between Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) on behalf of the players.
The Socceroos' deal will see players receive an increase in standard and tournament match payments and a larger slice of commercial revenue over the next four years.
The Matildas' deal will see 23 positions offered in three tiers providing important financial stability as well as rewards for performing in key international tournaments.
The CBA provides competitive remuneration for Australian women athletes in comparison with other sports and is another step towards the objective of providing them with fulltime employment.
FFA CEO Ben Buckley said the agreements reflected the strong working relationship between the FFA, the PFA and the players and the continued success of the teams.
"The Socceroos agreement follows the successful qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2011 AFC Asian Cup and also reflects increases in sponsorship, licensing and the Consumer Price Index," Buckley said.
"Whilst the amounts paid to the players are modest compared to salaries paid to some players in some of the top leagues in Europe, they are significant boosts to young players and players from the A-League in the Socceroos squad. The players are committed to all members of the squad being paid equally, and to supporting up and coming players.
"It is also a fitting reward for the team's fantastic performance in the AFC Asian Cup where they were ever so close to bringing home their first major piece of silverware.
"From FFA's point of view we value the Socceroos players enormously and want to reflect this in the financial terms agreed with the Socceroos. The team enhances the reputation of FFA and the sport, and the revenue we are able to generate, and it's appropriate that this is reflected in the financial arrangement between us.
"The Matildas' agreement reflects a fantastic year for the team in which they became Asian Champions and qualified for the World Cup in Germany later this year and is another stage towards building women's football and the career path for players.
"I would also like to commend the players and the PFA for entering into negotiations in good faith and finalizing an agreement that is beneficial to all parties."
Professional Footballers Australia Chief Executive Brendan Schwab said the smoothly negotiated CBA has been welcomed by the players.
"The PFA and the players have a number of objectives for the Socceroos CBA.These include an outstanding high performance environment, helping to commercially build FFA and the Australian football industry, and ensuring players are reasonably rewarded financially for the honour of playing for their country.
"We are pleased that these objectives have been met in the new CBA," Schwab added.
