Matildas players remain in the dark over pay dispute ahead of SheBelieves Cup

Drama continues to follow the Matildas with vice-captain Ellie Carpenter confirming they were still in the dark over how much they would be paid for this international window.

Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter has revealed the players still don’t know how much they will be paid for the SheBelieves Cup, with talks ongoing over the issue ahead of the tournament in America.

The pay issue was first reported by Code Sport earlier this month – with tensions among the playing group said to be simmering as a result.

It has added to the drama surrounding the women’s national football team due to Australian superstar Sam Kerr’s recent court case in the UK.

Carpenter, the first Matildas player to front the media since Kerr was cleared of a racial harassment charge last week, admitted the pay dispute between the player’s union and Football Australia was ongoing.

The 23-woman-squad has flown from all over the world to Houston for the three-match friendly tournament against Japan, USA and Colombia.

Ellie Carpenter (L) and the Matildas remain in the dark over their pay dispute with Football Australia. Picture: Getty

The Professional Footballers’ Australia and Football Australia were having crisis talks over the national women’s team’s wages for this camp.

“Discussions with the FA are ongoing and that’s why I can’t comment on that right now,” Carpenter said.

A source close to the issue said the matter had reached a “boiling point” and players had described the situation as a “distraction” and “not befitting of a high-performance environment”.

Code Sports understands it has been an ongoing issue since July – with players heading into every camp unaware of how much they will be paid due to the new revenue share model in the CBA.

Football Australia confirmed the matter was ongoing.

“We are engaged in discussions around the ongoing operational execution of the CBA to continue its smooth implementation,” a spokesman said.

“Football Australia is a proud and long-standing partner of the PFA, and we remain committed to working together with the PFA and the players to grow the game’s revenues, strengthen its commercial future, and provide an optimal high-performance environment for our national team.”

PFA have been contacted for comment.

Carpenter was also only willing to give one statement on Kerr – who hasn’t been in a Matildas camp since rupturing her ACL in January last year.

“We hope she is okay and her wellbeing as it has been a very challenging time for her and secondly we hope her rehab journey with her knee is going well,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter is excited about the return of Matildas teammate Sam Kerr. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“We all can’t wait to see her back on the pitch, that is obviously such a hard and lengthy journey as I’ve been through it myself.

“We hope to have her back on the pitch doing what she loves and that is going to be the best thing.”

Off the field drama aside Carpenter said she was looking forward to the tournament – which will be a good test for the upcoming Asian Cup and also provide a chance to get some revenge against the USA side which knocked the Matildas out of the Olympics last year.

“When we verse USA there is always that rivalry, there’s always such high intensity and aggression,” Carpenter said.

“Of course we want to beat them, we want to challenge them. Seeing their roster it’s quite a mixed roster, with experience and youth as well so I’m sure they’re building obviously for the World Cup as we are in the phase for preparing for the Asian Cup.

“I think it’s going to be a great game and of course you always have it in the back of your mind – but I’m very excited for that match.”

Ellie Carpenter has hinted at some new tactics to be deployed in the SheBelieves Cup. Picture: Getty

Carpenter hinted that interim coach Tom Sermanni might test out some new tactics and players during the three-match tournament.

“Japan, USA, Colombia – they’re all very different teams, so we’re going to approach the games with the best to come up against them,” Carpenter said.

“Our team is very adaptable and we’re quite good with change on the go and we’ve worked on so many systems over the past couple of years, that’s a great thing to have in your back pocket.

“With the Asian Cup being one year away we’re not going into any game wanting to lose, you always want to win.

“These three games are going to be challenging, but I know all the girls every time we play for our country we want to give it our all and we want to win for our country.”

Originally published as Matildas players remain in the dark over pay dispute ahead of SheBelieves Cup