Socceroos players are still waiting for their World Cup match fees three months after the competition finished. These payments were due shortly after the squad departed their camp in July but have not been made.
Professional Footballers Australia CEO Beau Busch called the circumstances unacceptable. "It is clearly an unacceptable situation that three months after the conclusion of the World Cup the Socceroos match fees remain unpaid," Busch stated.
Football Australia has stated it is prepared to issue the World Cup payments. The organization has pointed to tax issues in the United States as the cause for the delay. It is collaborating with the PFA to find a solution, and FIFA has offered expert tax assistance to member associations for responsibilities in North America.
Each player is due a significant sum for their participation in the event. The team participated in several matches during the tournament. Players who featured or were named as substitutes earned a set amount per game.
This payment issue comes to light as the national team gets ready for forthcoming friendly matches. The team under Graham Arnold is scheduled to play against Qatar. This follows earlier friendlies against another nation, for which the players received full payment.
The team's recent results include a draw and a loss from those two fixtures. Australian players scored in the most recent match.
Football Australia has reported a substantial financial loss recently, which provides some background to the delayed payments. This ongoing issue risks damaging the players' confidence as the team focuses on future tournaments. Another friendly match is planned for later in the same international period.
Background and full detail: abc.net.au
