The PFA recently conducted a range of integrity training sessions with players across the A-Leagues.

During club visits, the PFA reminded players of integrity standards they are required to uphold during their professional careers, as well as the resources available to them. 

The measures range from betting and match-fixing reporting through the Red Button app, which was introduced by FIFPRO in 2020 to enable players to safely report match-fixing approaches, to upholding Football Australia’s Code of Conduct, along with how to manage agents and implementing social media safeguards, such as GoBubble.

“As the face of the game, players are subjected to the highest level of criticism when it comes to matters of integrity in sport,” the PFA’s Head of Player Relations, Women, Erin Clout said.

“To be appropriately held against these standards, it’s absolutely paramount that the players are educated on all expectations the industry has of them, both on and off the football field.

“The sport has a duty of care to all athletes to ensure that the same level of expectation held against them is equally shared across all stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the sport.

“A key part of our pre-season visits was to ensure all our members know where to go for support, how to report behaviour that has fallen short of their expectations (such as the Red Button App) as well as how to proactively seek to safeguard themselves from risks to their wellbeing (such as GoBubble).”

An overview of key integrity matters that the PFA has discussed with players this season:

Betting & Match Fixing: Under the terms of contract players are prohibited from betting on any and all football matches globally. Players are provided with access to FIFPRO’s Red Button App, which is a safe and secure reporting platform for any match fixing approaches. The PFA have also organised for EPIC Risk Management to run a gambling education webinar for all A-Leagues players later in the season.

GoBubble: Every A-League player has access to GoBubble, an application which once activated silences abuse, hate and harassment on social media.

Agents: Player agents must be licensed with FIFA, This means that Agents must have sat, and passed, the FIFA Agent exam. Current global agent reforms came into place in October 2023.