Pay Dispute Almost Over For Football Federation Australia, Players' Union

Football's "ugly pay war is all but over" with Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers Australia "only days away" from finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement, according to the AAP. It is "understood the formal negotiation process between the two parties is over," and while some informal talks are ongoing, the "last remaining hurdle" is for Socceroos, Matildas and A-League players to approve the new deal, which is "considered a foregone conclusion." While that may "take up to two weeks to complete," it means the start of the A-League season next week "will not be marred by industrial action" and schedules for the men's and women's national teams will go ahead as normal. A-League CEO Damien de Bohun said, "We're in the midst of finalizing the collective bargaining agreement with the players' association and the players." The Matildas stand to be "the biggest beneficiaries of the new CBA," with the new deal set to make them full-time professional players for the first time (AAP, 10/1).