Djite lashes FFA over stalled pay deal

Adelaide United forward Bruce Djite warned Football Federation Australia (FFA) of mass A-League player dissatisfaction over its failed pay deal - which resulted in A-League boss Damien de Bohun storming out of the final discussions.

Djite

Bruce Djite has been a vocal defender of A-League player rights (Getty) Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

Djite, who represented players during the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks, said "not one player" supported FFA's deal and A-League players were preparing to do what it takes to improve it.

"For me and the players, for the good of the game, for fans, for everyone, it's better with a CBA because everyone has bought in and they're going in the same direction," Djite told AAP.

"(We need to) go back to the negotiating table. We're going to look at all our legal avenues, all our industrial avenues to get (FFA) back to the negotiating table."

Talks for a new pay deal included 23 meetings across six months but broke down on the eve of the previous CBA's expiry on 30 June.

Both camps hoped to include the A-League, Socceroos and Matildas in a new six-year deal but could not agree on future A-League player payments.

Djite, who earned nine Socceroos caps while playing for Turkish side Genclerbirligi, claimed De Bohun was enraged by the PFA's decision to turn their offer down.

"He was very agitated and stormed out," he said.
"Damien is a cool, calm collected guy generally but it went out the window ... he just left in a child's tantrum, because it was clear the deal wasn't going to get done."
FFA said the deal is the "best ever offer for players in the history of Australian football and comes at a time when FFA is balancing the growth of the game with the sustainability of all A-League clubs".

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), representing the players, said initial and pledged future player payments aren't up to scratch.

Djite said the final offer was "extremely disappointing", and players had voiced their disapproval.

"We had a teleconference of 50-plus players and everyone was on the same page," he said. "Not one player said it was reasonable.

"Revenues continue to rise but they're wanting to freeze the cap for the next two seasons and potentially a third depending on broadcast rights, it's unbelievable."

He accused FFA of backtracking on its word two years ago when the arguments for wage restraint were based on improvement in the future.

The previous two-year deal included rises of one and two per cent in each year.

Djite stopped short of calling the current offer a broken promise, but said it was time players shared in the growing wealth around the game.

"Two years ago, FFA went on about the state of the game, how precarious it is out there for owners," he said.

"They were saying in two years we'll be in a much better position, we'll come to you with a much better offer.

"I cannot sell this proposal to my team-mates because it's not a good deal."

Djite kept club owners out of his sights, saying they were "key stakeholders" who deserved support.
His comments come after Adelaide chairman Greg Griffin, who represented clubs in the talks, claimed A-League clubs would fall over if additional money went towards player payments.


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3 min read
Published 14 July 2015 12:32pm
Updated 14 July 2015 12:47pm

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