Matildas’ equal-pay deal puts spotlight on gap in prize money at World Cups, claims David Gallop
The revolutionary pay deal which will give up to 20 Matildas parity with their Socceroos counterparts will put pressure on FIFA to close the gap between World Cup prize money, says David Gallop.
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The Matildas’ groundbreaking equal-pay deal will put pressure on FIFA to reduce the huge gap in prize money between the men’s and women’s World Cups, Football Federation CEO David Gallop has predicted.
After FFA and the players’ union unveiled details of the revolutionary deal – first revealed in The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday – Gallop said the $370m “discrepancy” in prize money would continue to get “global attention” thanks to the Matildas’ deal.
Under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), up to 20 Matildas will earn the same as their higher-earning male counterparts, equating to roughly $100,000 a year, for playing for the national team.
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The four-year CBA will give the Socceroos and Matildas half each of a 24 per cent share of commercial revenues generated by the national teams this year, rising by one per cent each year.
The players will also get to share 40 per cent of prize money from a World Cup, and the Matildas will get the same off-field support as the men.
Players union boss John Didulica said the deal in its entirety was a world first and should be “shouted from the rooftops” as a move towards gender parity.
Though FIFA has doubled the prize money at the women’s World Cup to $30m, that is dwarfed by the $400m pot for the men’s tournament.
“Prize money is still a big issue, the discrepancy is stark,” said Gallop.
“This will help those who are sitting in this seat (succeeding him as CEO), and JD (Didulica) and others to continue to drive in that area.
“This deal does not take into account that discrepancy, and that's a discrepancy that needs attention from FIFA. It's great that it is getting global attention and we can be part of that.”
Didulica said the revenue-sharing model would provide an example for FIFA of how equalising payments could lead to greater income.
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“We hope this will prove to be successful in that regard, and FIFA will see the fruits emerging from this,” he said.
“It should encourage FIFA to consider the question of prize money. You can never guarantee outcomes, but this is a framework the players have invested in.”
The deal makes Australia one of just four federations in the world to have achieved equal pay between male and female senior teams, and Matilda Elise Kellond-Knight said others should follow suit to concentrate minds at FIFA.
“The more countries that recognise equality, the more pressure it puts on FIFA,” she said. “If we can gather these leading countries to recognise equality within their Federations, the question will be asked of why this is not happening at a global level.
“In Australia we're leaders, we like to be proactive and do things ourselves. We're one of the first countries to recognise equality, and our model is unique.
“The general concept of treating females equally to males is what we want, and what we need to put pressure on FIFA.”
Originally published as Matildas’ equal-pay deal puts spotlight on gap in prize money at World Cups, claims David Gallop