A-League news: FFA set for stand-off with players over cap cuts

Some of the biggest names in the A-League could be jostling for the exit ahead of a stand-off with Football Federation Australia.

Bruno Fornaroli of the Glory reacts during the Round 23 A-League match between Sydney FC and Perth Glory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, March 14, 2020. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Players are headed for a huge stand-off with Football Federation Australia over an expected slashing of next season’s A-League salary cap, a move which could trigger a star-studded exodus.

Some of the competition’s biggest names could revolt if next year’s contracts are drastically reduced, opening the door to demands for the right to leave immediately given the materially changed nature of their deals.

The situation carries echoes of that experienced recently by the NBL, where dual MVP Bryce Cotton as well as fellow high-profile stars Casper Ware and Xavier Cooks were among those to take up the option to walk out on deals after being asked to take COVID-19-related cuts.

A mass clear-out of talent would be the worst-case scenario for Australian football ahead of a critical season for the A-League, which is entering the last year of its broadcast agreement with Fox Sports.

“Attracting and retaining talent is crucial to our professional leagues and will be critical as we tackle our collective challenge of rebuilding the sport,” Professional Footballers Australia CEO Beau Busch told News Corp.

“As evidenced since the resumption of the A-League, the on-field quality remains incredibly high, so efforts to preserve and enhance this must sit at the heart of any recovery plan.”

The renegotiated broadcast deal, inked in June in a move which saved the ongoing 2019-20 A-League season, is worth $32 million for next season – down from the $57.6m per year under the previous arrangement.

That significant revenue reduction, coupled with the financial disasters associated with the COVID-19 shutdown and related diminished crowds, leaves the A-League and its clubs in a worrying position and is why a shrinking salary cap is firmly on the agenda.

But it’s understood the players are unwilling to accept further cuts, having already agreed to enormous concessions to continue this season – believed to be as little as 17 per cent of their contracts, plus the Government’s JobKeeper payments.

Of added concern for players on multi-year deals is that the current collective bargaining agreement, renegotiated in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdown in order to complete the 2019-20 season to run through until August 30, could prevent them from seeking lucrative moves to overseas clubs.

Should players be asked to take pay cuts for next season, they would effectively be given the opportunity to end their contracts – but not until September 1.

And with the transfer window for most of Europe already open, clubs are already on the hunt for talent which leaves A-League players left in the lurch.

The European window is nominally set to close on October 5, however FIFA has flagged an option to extend windows where necessary – or have additional windows to allow more player transfers, given the extreme circumstances.

Negotiations between the clubs and the players’ union opened this week on a new CBA.

FFA were contacted for comment.

The Daily Telegraph