Australian men's national football team coach Ange Postecoglou "weighed into the worsening pay row between the Socceroos union and the FFA, condemning both sides for treating the national team as a political football during crucial World Cup qualifying matches," according to Michael Lynch of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. When asked about "the impact the festering row is having on his squad and preparations for matches against Bangladesh on Thursday in Perth and Tajikistan in Dushanbe next Tuesday," Postecoglou said, "I am not involved in the negotiations so I have no idea of where it all sits (but) I am not happy it's getting played out in the Socceroo camp. I am not happy we are talking about it during a time when all the focus should be (on the players and the game). We have a game in two days, a tough road trip a couple of days later." Postecoglou said that "the suggestion that the players would simply ignore the row between their union and the game's governing body and put all their attention on the upcoming games was false." He said, "This theory that people just focus on what's ahead ... it's affecting me, that should be enough. ... I don't have them every day, but if we think it's okay during World Cup qualifiers to play out this scenario, then I am out of whack with everyone else." FFA CEO David Gallop again criticized the PFA leadership, saying that "they were damaging the entire sport with their boycott of the administration's commercial partners." Gallop said, "It's very disappointing that so many fans in Perth were denied the chance to see the Socceroos ... this was a big lost opportunity" (SMH, 9/1).
MATILDAS GRATEFUL: In Sydney, Carly Adno wrote the Socceroos have given the Australian women's national football team "another voice" in its fight for better pay and conditions by controversially boycotting all commercial activities. Goalkeeper Lydia Williams "is grateful." Williams, the Matildas goalkeeper, "thanked the Socceroos for taking such a strong stand." Williams: "The support of the Socceroos is greatly appreciated by the Matildas. It highlights the unity of the players and the respect we all have for each another" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/1).
