The Socceroos, who are in Perth for a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Bangladesh on Thursday, are standing down from scheduled, pre-match activities that benefit the FFA's commercial partners. The game itself is unaffected.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the PFA said this action would continue until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the PFA and FFA.
The PFA said it would "instead seek to undertake additional community and charity appearances to ensure fans do not miss out on meeting the players".
Veteran goalkeeper Theo has won five A-League championships - two with Melbourne Victory and three with his current club, Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane is engulfed by problems related to its ownership which has resulted in repeated late monthly wage payments to players and unpaid superannuation.
Theo released a statement to the PFA on Tuesday night, which has been forwarded to The World Game. It reads:
"The Socceroos have shown that this is about all players. We are trying to negotiate a ‘whole of game’ CBA and we want the contribution of all players to be respected. The current situation at our club has been hugely difficult and the players continue to face so much uncertainty."
"We want to work together to grow the game and improve the future, so that what is happening at the Roar never happens again. If we can do this everyone will benefit, but first we need to be respected for the contribution we make."
"Knowing we have the support of the Socceroos means a lot."
The PFA announced the decision by the Socceroos not to engage in scheduled activities that benefitted the FFA's commercial partners in a media release issued on Monday night.
The FFA then released a statement later the same night to say it had been informed by the PFA that the players' union had "instructed Socceroo players to withdraw from scheduled events involving school children and football fans in Perth tomorrow (Tuesday).
"The community events targeted by the PFA were to be run by FFA in conjunction with commercial partners."
The statement from FFA CEO David Gallop included an apology to both the Perth public and FFA's commercial partners "for the inconvenience caused by this unilateral action of the PFA". He condemned the action as "a backward step in the game's mission to maximise our commercial opportunities".
Gallop also questioned whether the Socceroos "have had the game's financial position explained to them so that they understand the affordability aspects of the negotiation".
"Most importantly, the critical need to understand the continued quest to achieve financial sustainability for the Hyundai A-League clubs and their owners," Gallop said.
"If those facts were fully explained we would be very surprised if our players would have taken the step of boycotting these important initiatives."
The PFA, in its statement on Tuesday, hit back just as hard, CEO Adam Vivian describing the decision by the Socceroos as a "serious" one they had not taken lightly and that they had done so "in support of all of Australia’s professional footballers".
Vivian added that the Socceroos would "undertake all World Cup qualifiers, community, media and charity appearances, despite being under no contractual obligation to do so".
He said the Socceroos were seeking "respect from the game’s governing body", which had been "missing" from negotiations.
"There is over $1.4 million in outstanding remuneration owed to A-League players," Vivian said.
"Players are being let down by some clubs and there are no repercussions from FFA when obligations to players are continually not met."
“The Matildas have had to undertake a full-time workload for part-time wages. We have seen little to no regard shown for the impact this has on the lives of our elite female players. This is unacceptable."
“The Socceroos stand in solidarity with their A-League and Matildas counterparts. Without respect being afforded to the players the game cannot move forward."
