Football Federation Australia – double the Matildas’ pay!
Posted by John, September 10th, 2015 - under Strikes, The Matildas.
Tags: Football Federation Australia
David Gallop, head of Football Federation Australia, reportedly earns more than $1m a year.
The Matildas, Australia’s women soccer players, are paid $10,500 for a six month contract or $21,000 annually. So David Gallop earns fifty times more than a Matilda.
It says a lot about the role of women in Australian society that the Matildas, one of the most successful, if not most successful, international sporting team in Australia at the moment, is paid $21,000 a year, which is about two/thirds of the minimum wage in Australia and about half the poverty line. Oh, and before we get too swept up in the patriarchy, Gina Rinehart ‘earns’ in about ten minutes what the Matildas earn in a year.
Women’s soccer in Australia is the 7-Eleven of elite sport.
Cutting Gallop’s pay to around $500,000 would provide enough to pay the Matildas double their current salary. Even then $42,000 a year is a pittance to pay some of the best and most successful sportspeople in Australia.
I guess for the FFA it is about priorities – old white male administrators over the brilliant women who actually play the game at international level.
Because of FFA’s shabby treatment the Matildas have effectively gone on strike and won’t be playing two games against the number one women’s team, the USA.
To support the Matildas in their just campaign for a slightly less rotten wage, sign this change.org petition.
Solidarity with the Matildas in their struggle for some sort of wage justice.
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Comments
Comment from John
Time September 11, 2015 at 9:22 am
Yes, but I am not paid $1 m a year.
Comment from peter piper
Time September 11, 2015 at 4:40 pm
regretably, not many people want to watch womens soccer. Same reason why badminton players arent paid the same as male soccer players..if you cant attract the punters and TV audiences, you wont attract the salaries. Simple maths…no capitalist plot.
Comment from Mike
Time September 13, 2015 at 4:26 pm
If you want to get paid more to play sport, attract a bigger crowd. I play sport every Saturday, but don’t get paid a cent. Probably because no one is there watching.
The petition you refer to makes this nonsense claim “It’s hard to acquire a fan base when games aren’t broadcast.” What about Sheffield Shield cricket in the 1920’s. TV hadn’t been invented bu they were playing in front of massive crowds.
If you can’t earn a living playing sport, then get a real job. This applies to men and women.
Comment from John
Time September 13, 2015 at 7:42 pm
The way to build women’s sport, in this case women’s soccer in Australia, is to pay them enough to live on. It is about respect. One of the best teams in the world is paid a pittance to play.
Comment from Mike
Time September 11, 2015 at 8:01 am
Aren’t you an old white male?