Australia’s top female soccer players will now be paid the same amount as their male counterparts following a landmark deal aimed at closing the gender pay gap between the country’s national football teams, CNN reported.
The historic new four-year deal between Football Federation Australia (FFA) and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) ensures the Westfield Matildas receive the same benefits as the Caltex Socceroos, who have historically been paid more to play.
The two teams will also share an equal split of all commercial revenues whereas the Socceroos previously earned a greater share.
Additionally, the Matildas will now travel in business class, which male players have always done.
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Thanks to a new three-tiered centralized contract system, Australia’s finest female footballers will now be provided with an increased annual remuneration. Players classified as tier-one athletes will earn the same as those on the Socceroos.
Last year, the Matildas reached the 2019 Women’s World Cup last 16 in France.
As per the new agreement , women players will receive an increased share of prize money for FIFA World Cup qualification, increasing to 40 percent from 30 percent, and then rising to 50 percent if they progress to the knockout stage of competition.
The Matildas and Socceroos will also receive a 24 percent share of an agreed aggregate of 2019-20 generated revenues.
That number will rise by 1 percent each year. And from that 24 percent, the players will commit a 5 percent share towards reinvesting in Australian Youth National Teams.
FFA Chairman, Chris Nikou, said this deal is a “huge step toward ensuring that we live the values of equality, inclusivity and opportunity.”
“Football is the game for everyone,” he said in a press release . “With this CBA, the next generation of aspiring Australian kids can see a pathway that offers a sustainable career, a chance to be an Olympian, and the lure of playing at a FIFA World Cup – regardless of your gender. It means whether you are a male or female, the value football places on your jersey is no different.”
He added, “We are proud to break this new ground in Australian and world sport.”
Recently, many female athletes have taken a stand against gender inequality in sport.
Just last year, prior to their playing at the women’s tournament in France, the Matildas launched a campaign in order to pressure global soccer governing body FIFA to provide equal prize money at World Cups.
When the U.S. women’s team won, they received $4 million out of the tournament’s total prize money pool of $30 million. Meanwhile, the 2018 men’s World Cup winning team pulled in $38 million from a pool of $400 million.
h/t: CNN , Westfield Matildas
