The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has asked for funding after the Albanese Government pledged $200million to women’s sport, which did not include any investment for A-League Women.
Inspired by the Matildas and their memorable FIFA Women’s World Cup run, the Australian government launched the ‘Play Our Way‘ program to improve sporting facilities and equipment specifically for women and girls.
In “one of Australia’s biggest comprehensive investments in women’s sports”, the program is available for all sports but according to the government, “it is anticipated soccer, as the highest participation sport in Australia, will need significant resourcing in the wake of the greatest Women’s World Cup ever.”
But the APL has responded after the Liberty A-League – home to Matildas stars Courtnee Vine (Sydney FC) and Clare Hunt (Western Sydney Wanderers) and major pathway for the national team – was excluded.
“Community sports facility funding is much-needed to ensure women and girls have more opportunities to play football,” APL CEO Danny Townsend said in a statement.
“The decisions made today are going to go a long way to inform the success of the Matildas in the 2027 FIFA World Cup. So the exclusion of the A-League Women, the place where Matildas are made, is a major concern for the future of our game.
“Right now, there is no investment return for women’s football and the current private sector investment model is unsustainable.
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“Player development is funded at a loss. Broadcast production is funded at a loss. Matchdays are funded at a loss. We simply ask the government to match our investment to help underpin the future of the game.
“The girls that play in these facilities dream of playing professionally, of making football a career, of representing their country and of inspiring the next generation. Without sustainable funding, that is not going to be possible.
“Our ask is for $12m which is 5% of the federal funding for an AFL stadium in Tasmania. $12m which would benefit hundreds of female players, thousands of girls and millions of Australians who have seen what is possible through football this month.”
Matildas players, past and present, and current Liberty A-League stars have called on the government for more investment in the local game recently in the midst of their historic run to the World Cup semi-final and Saturday’s third-place play-off.
The entire Matildas World Cup squad has come through the A-League Women and Sydney’s Vine recently told reporters: “A lot of us have been in the Liberty A League and that’s why we’re here today.
“A lot of our pathways are different and we’ve gone different ways, but I wouldn’t be here today without the Liberty A League.”
Superstar Matildas captain Sam Kerr said: “I can only speak for the Matildas [but], you know, we need funding in our development, we need funding in our grassroots. We need funding, you know, we need funding everywhere.”
“If we want to continue the growth of this game and we want to make the Matildas the best they can possibly be, we want to have the investment into this A-League,” added Matilda and Western United star Chloe Logarzo.
