A schism is emerging between men’s professional players and the Australian Professional Leagues as concerns mount over the direction of the A-League Men, despite positive signs in the first month of the season.
Half of players surveyed by Professional Footballers Australia are dissatisfied with the performance of the APL, and a similar share (46%) have “low trust” that the league’s management can develop a vision to improve the competition.
The results come as the APL heralded the success of the Unite Round in Sydney over the weekend, which attracted a cumulative attendance of 71,000 including more than 30,000 for Saturday’s double header – despite a build-up checkered with problems.
PFA chief executive Beau Busch said the survey results – as part of the organisation’s annual review of the ALM released on Tuesday – show the competition’s potential and challenges.
“Four years post-separation, players have upheld their commitment on the pitch, yet their trust in the APL has eroded due to a governance model that is not fit for purpose and fails to establish a genuine partnership with the players,” he said.
The A-Leagues were unbundled from Football Australia in 2020 and are now run by the APL, which is controlled by club representatives. The PFA complained in February of being excluded from APL decision-making.
“Without a unified strategy rooted in good governance and a meaningful player voice, the league will struggle to meet the expectations of the players and fans, leaving the game vulnerable to the repeated failures of the past,” Busch said.
A-Leagues commissioner Nick Garcia said this season is off to a “really strong” start, citing a 30% growth in crowds and a similar audience increase for Saturday’s matches broadcasted on 10 Bold. “We look forward to continuing this momentum across both leagues as we move into the summer period,” he said on Sunday.
The APL slashed annual distributions to clubs by $1.5m to just $530,000 in the off-season, and negotiations between the APL and the PFA are expected to be tense ahead of a new pay deal in 2026. The salary floor for ALM sides – that is, the minimum each club is required to spend on players – is $2.25m this season and next.
Busch said there were positive signs in the development of the league, but it also faced threats.
“To the credit of the clubs and the APL, this season is off to a positive start,” he said. “However, the report pinpoints the structural, regulatory and cultural matters that must be addressed to build a robust league.”
The PFA report identified the growth in outbound transfer fees means this revenue now exceeded broadcast income, and has become an important – and sustainable – financial pillar of the local game, alongside increased prize money for the Asian Champions League.
While standards of club professionalism, services and facilities were reported to be increasing, 11% of 191 players surveyed felt their club environment posted a risk to their physical or mental safety at some point throughout the 2023-24 season.
Broadcast and atmosphere were cited as the most important priorities for players, followed by visibility and branding/marketing.
Unite Round was widely viewed as an improvement on last season, but it was not without challenges, including a ticketing outage and a last-minute shift of venue for the A-League Women matches due to pitch quality.
“It was a turbulent build up,” Garcia said. “But we’re really proud to have welcomed 50% more fans from across Australia and New Zealand to Sydney compared to our first Unite Round.
“This event really resonates with our young and diverse fanbase, and aligns with our drive to unite communities through a shared love of football. It’s the pinnacle weekend of professional football, and we hope this is a tradition that we can continue to build on and grow in the coming years.”
