Western Sydney Club World Cup trip in doubt
Western Sydney Wanderers' players are considering their Club World Cup participation amid a dispute over the allocation of prize money.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Knkng9kK8vVcpRqvGBCaNe.jpg)
The A-League side were set to fly to host country Morocco on Sunday in readiness for the seven-team tournament, which they qualified for by winning the AFC Champions League last month.
Mexican outfit Cruz Azul are their scheduled opponents next Saturday, but Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) confirmed that the squad had reservations about competing as a result of the club "failing to enter into meaningful negotiations regarding the distribution of prize money".
PFA chief executive Adam Vivian said in a statement: "The players have made every attempt to reach an agreement on a fair and equitable share of the prize money.
"Despite these intentions the club has consistently refused to negotiate in good faith.
"Throughout this process the players have proposed a number of solutions to assist in coming to a resolution, including mediation and arbitration.
"However, the club has been unreceptive and unwilling to work towards an agreement that sees the players fairly remunerated for their success in reaching the tournament as the Champions of Asia or reflects their increased workload.
"As a result of this the players, with the full support of the PFA, have unanimously taken the decision to consider their participation in the tournament.
"The players and the PFA remain committed to sitting down with the Wanderers management to negotiate an acceptable outcome for all parties."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
The news comes as the Wanderers continued their domestic struggles at the weekend with a 2-0 loss to Adelaide United, which left them rooted to the foot of the table.
Coach Tony Popovic, who on Saturday was given a suspended two-match ban from Champions League matches as a result of an altercation during the quarter-final first leg against Guangzhou Evergrande, offered no hint of the pay dispute after the defeat at Coopers Stadium.
"We've got to go now to Morocco, which we should be proud of and look forward to," he said.
"You're representing Australian football, you're representing the Wanderers and and we want to do Australian football proud.
"When we get back we've got a big job ahead of us in the A-League but we've got to enjoy this over there.
"I can guarantee you once they get to Morocco and the reason why they're there is because they're the Asian champions, we'll enjoy our week and do everything we can to set up a magical date against Real Madrid."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack