Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) has released the following statement from PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch:
“The PFA this afternoon received correspondence from the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in relation to A-Leagues Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“Rather than allowing the players a reasonable opportunity to fully consider it, the APL has instead immediately announced it in the media, revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of how good faith bargaining works.
“The players deserve the respect of hearing directly about proposals that affect their careers through a genuine process, rather than reading about them in the media.
“The players overwhelmingly rejected the APL’s previous final offer due to a fundamental lack of trust that it would have secured the leagues’ futures after years of mismanagement. The APL’s conduct continues to erode that trust.
“It is disappointing that the APL has attempted to wedge the players with media tactics instead of engaging appropriately.
“We will now carefully review the APL’s letter and will consider its contents with our members in the coming days.
“Five years of underperformance by the APL has left the game in an incredibly precarious position.
“Any new proposal will only be accepted by the players if it promises genuine transformation.”
