PFRA Media Release: PFRA A-Leagues Referees make themselves unavailable for FFA Cup Matches

Media Release: PFRA A-Leagues Referees make themselves unavailable for FFA Cup Matches and A-Leagues trial matches

12 October 2021

On Monday, 11 October 2021, the Professional Football Referees Association (PFRA) Executive Committee advised Football Australia that PFRA members would no longer be available to officiate FFA Cup Matches and A-Leagues trial matches.

The PFRA does not take this decision lightly and comes on the back of more than three months of discussions and efforts to resolve several topics.

These topics include:

1. The A-Leagues Leadership and Coaching department did not have their contracts renewed as the League separated from Football Australia in July 2021.

For the past three months, the A-Leagues referees have had no direction, coaching / instruction, and no fitness coaching. We are now just weeks out from the start of the season, and the referees find themselves in a position without any form of coaching and/or preparation.

2. The A-Leagues panels were announced, and members were unfairly removed from their position without any due process or warning.

There was no performance management or even an indication that any members may have been in danger of losing their position. Yet, the FA Referees Committee saw fit to remove these members of their own accord without following any apparent process.

3. Finally, the A-Leagues referees are without a contract for the coming season.

This has been an ongoing issue for referees and despite constant efforts to have this resolved – there are no current contracts in place for the coming season.

PFRA President, Paul Cetrangolo, said “The PFRA A-Leagues referees sacrifice an enormous amount for football in the country and it seems staggering that we find ourselves in a position without basic items such as leadership, coaching staff, fair processes for changes to panels, and a standard contract.”

Paul also commented that “The PFRA remains committed to solving these issues but will not officiate further matches while these items remain outstanding.”

The PFRA was incorporated in 2013 as the exclusive professional association to represent match officials operating on the A-League.

Ends.

PFRA Media Contact:

Paul Cetrangolo, President PFRA

profootballreferees@gmail.com