The Australian Professional Player's Union (PFA) has joined FIFPro's call for women's football to remain on the agenda whilst coronavirus continues to pause sport across the world.
The World Game reports that the PFA has drawn up a document demonstrating the progress made in women's football in Australia to support their argument for continued support during the pandemic. The player's union uses the document to argue that the spread of coronavirus has shone a light on the "fragility" of women's football in Australia.
“COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of our industry and the women’s game within it. Urgent decisions will soon need to be made that will shape the game for generations – and determine those who play it," the PFA wrote in the document titled "From to 'No Play' to 'Equal Pay'".
"To build on our recent gains, the future for women footballers must be front of mind for all decision-makers within the sport."
Australia has been home to some of the biggest leaps in progress for women's football in the past year with the women's national side at the heart of these changes. The Matildas had been in involved in the first strike seen in an Australian women's national side when they refused to travel to a friendly against the USA.
Cut to 2019 and the Matilda's made history by signing a landmark equal pay agreement with their male counterparts - the Socceroos. This agreement was symptomatic of a culture of reform that had been building in Australia when it came to women's football.
The PFA have drawn up the "From to 'No Play' to 'Equal Pay'" to demonstrate the steps taken within women's football and ensure the women's game is not sacrificed to keep men's clubs afloat.
“An opportunity exists to embed this framework across all areas of football as we transition to a ‘new normal’," the PFA added.
"A new world where women footballers no longer have to fight for opportunity, fairness and a voice, but exist within industry frameworks that don’t discriminate. If we don’t seize the enormous opportunity in women’s football and rebuild it in line with these principles, we are choosing to regress.
“We pride ourselves on being the global game for all. By embedding our model of empowerment throughout football, we can ensure our decisions at this moment in time prove that our pride is well-placed.”