Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Footballers Australia, Brendan Schuab Talks About Issues Around The Professional Football Player

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) through the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday, 5 April 2011 at 7:00PM.

In this interview we speak to the Professional Footballers Australia) PFA Chief Executive and General Counsel, Brendan Schuab. Its a fascinating interview and the observations are drawn from the perspective of an organistion that represents the interests of Australian professional football players, in Australia and overseas. Its a big brief for the PFA and good thing they are their to do the hevy lifting for players, because too many clubs don't when they should.

The FFA emphasises the need to develop and retain players in Australia, but is that always isn't in the interests of the individual player, parents or Australian football. Its cold comfort for young players and their parents in the ACT, to know that the A league, while producing the best standard of football since its inception, is by and large a financial basket case, without a sustainable financial model going forward. Of course, we in the ACT have no A league team and importantly, no Youth League team, so this makes the journey to professional status a bit harder for young best. The collapse of A league clubs has given rise to some unpleasant treatment of players with regard to ensuring that they are paid the monies owed to them. Good thing there is a Football union.

All the more reason to start doing you homework on the professional football environment, agents and so on, before the day arises when you must make decisions. For those parents that harbour desires for their children through professional football - you really do need to get across the subject.

You need all the help you can get to break into and earn a good living in professional football and when that golden time has passed, make a new life and earn a living in the community of your choice.

There is noshortage of obstacles to cross when you embark on the professional footballer's journey. The PFA is a very important organistation for professional players. Go to their website and you will notice that this orgainsation has the support of our current and former very best professional players.

Its important that parents and young players with ambitions to become a professional player, particularly those in elite programs such as ACTAS, become familiar with the "commercial" realities that encompass Football. The PFA seems to be a terrific resource and a trustworthy source of information.

The PFA (Professional Footballers Australia) exists for professional players:

1. Because we are strategically working to improve the terms and conditions of employment and the career paths and opportunities of all professional players.
2. Because we are a truly objective force working towards the advancement of the professional game in Australia.
3. Because we are the exclusive collective voice of Australia’s professional footballers.
4. Because we provide Australian professional footballers with a strong and united voice in Australia, Asia and, through FIFPro, the world footballers’ union, the football world.
5. Because we negotiate collective bargaining agreements for professional footballers that provide both fundamental and cutting edge rights and protections.
6. Because we help our Members find employment.
7. Because we help our Members negotiate playing contracts with their club.
8. Because we help our Members resolve disputes with clubs and football bodies.
9. Because we help our Members in their dealings with player agents.
10. Because we represent our Members in hearings before football and industrial courts and tribunals.
11. Because we help to promote and market our Members and the game.
12. Because we help Members at times of hardship.
13. Because we support our Members’ education both within and outside the game.
14. Because we help our Members prepare for life after football.
15. Because we support the welfare of our Members, both during their careers and afterwards.
16. Because we support our Members, both at home and around the world.
17. Because we help ensure that being a professional footballer is a great profession, and something to be proud of.
18. Because by joining the PFA you will not only help yourself, you will increase our powers to help all professionals

PFA website http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=1

Download Podcast here:

What's Happening In the Big Picture In Football Informs How We Orgainse The Local Game.

Sourced from http://www.theage.com.au/sport/a-league/revolution-at-risk-as-ffa-reaches-too-far-20100911-1563j.html

Craig Foster interviewed Breandan Schuab (PFA) toward the end of 2010. An excellent article below and proof positive that so many issues in Football are shared at every level of the game.

Craig Foster began his Blog article with these words:

"For me the A-League's trouble's have been brewing for some years. Schwab is correct in pointing back to the Crawford report. However, it should also be noted that Crawford recommended the commitment to quality playing surfaces - which has proved costly."

Brendan Schuab, Cheif Executive and General Counsel for the Professional Footballers Association

Craig Foster, former Soccerroo, SBS World Game Football Analyst, Author

Revolution at risk as FFA reaches too far
Craig Foster
September 12, 2010


Dwindling A-League crowds and static FFA dividends have clubs like the Newcastle Jets struggling to survive.

IMPORTANT questions have been raised, or exposed, about Football Federation Australia that mirror long-term concerns in the football community.

These relate to governance, strategy, decision-making, organisational culture, the relationship of the board to events, the exit or dismissal of key executives during the past year, the World Cup bid and its impact on the game locally, and the health and future, in cases such as the Newcastle Jets and of the A-League.

Seeking clarity on the state of the game, I asked Brendan Schwab, chief executive of Professional Footballers Australia, to shed some light on the key areas where the game is vulnerable. He chose to focus on two: the failure to properly implement the Crawford report, and the A-League structure and model.

''Two documents - extensively researched with government and players' money - gave FFA chairman Frank Lowy his blueprint in 2003 - the Crawford and NSL Task Force reports.

''The late Johnny Warren shaped both reports. The emotional power of football ran right through them. They were about building a football nation, knowing that the legacy will be for the children of today's football devotees. Neither report has been implemented, and in that lies the seeds of the game's discontent.

''Crawford's recommendations demanded that FFA be run by an independent yet accountable board. The A-League would be separate, run under licence from FFA by its own independent board accountable to the clubs. The two bodies would co-operate to collectively exploit the game's key commercial assets from the professional game.
''All state and territory federations would be overhauled along the same principles to build the game from the grassroots up.

''The failure of some states, most notably New South Wales, to embrace the Crawford reforms has had a profound impact. Football's community remains alienated and fragmented, especially after being branded as 'old soccer'.''

Schwab on the A-League:


''Falling A-League crowds and financial problems have many worried about the viability of a league that is the cornerstone of the game's development.


''Quality is not the issue. The playing standard has been acknowledged by many former greats as being at its highest point since the inception of the league. Nor are player payments too high. Socceroos and A-League player payments account for less than 30 per cent of the game's revenues, like cricket, ARL, AFL and rugby.


''It is also wrong to assume crowds had to dip. According to [brand analysts] Repucom, 51 per cent of football's massively growing fan base is 'avid'. Football is also a sport of the future, with the youngest fan base of Australia's major sports.

''Football is simply failing to fulfil its primary obligation - to convert football fans into participants, crowds and television audiences.

''The NSL Task Force revealed that about 2.5 million fans would support an eight to 10 team A-League. Regular TV audiences of one million on free-to-air TV were possible. Average crowds of 10,000 to 15,000 were realistic.

''It wouldn't be easy, though. The league had to be properly capitalised and positioned. The strategic location of the teams was essential. New clubs, quality players, community partnerships, effective marketing and football's unique atmosphere would then deliver the commercial revenues through fan support.

''However, rugby's one team per city model prevailed under the protection of a five-year moratorium.

''The game's heartland - western Sydney, with twice as many registered footballers than rugby league - was rejected. Whilst the value of the league's rights required two Melbourne teams (a game every week), only one was installed.


''Despite the predicted crowds and atmosphere being a strategic imperative, key clubs were allowed to commit to big stadia. Gate receipts haven't covered expenses.

''The opportunity to deliver grassroots programs such as small-sided games through the brands of the A-League clubs is being missed.

''Yet, the annual dividend has not increased since 2007, and FFA has added about $1 million to the cost base of the clubs, which were already under financial pressure. The FFA club dividend has fallen to less than 50 per cent of the salary cap, the lowest of any major sport in Australia (the AFL pays 77 per cent, the NRL 71 per cent).

''The same capital-driven approach of the old NSL, in driving expansion into North Queensland and the Gold Coast, sees both clubs possibly lasting no more than two seasons due to a lack of fan support. FFA's bill: $12 million, enough to capitalise western Sydney and increase club dividends.

''These problems have been compounded by FFA's decision to itself run the 2022 World Cup bid. Already a stretched organisation, its four mandates - the bid, the league, fielding our national teams and developing the game - have seen governance and performance suffer.

''More money is not the answer without sound strategy. A successful World Cup will only solve the game's problems if the obligation of hosting football's greatest event brings about world-class standards of governance and decision-making.''

I couldn't have said it better myself. [Craig Foster]