Socceroos play down pay dispute

Socceroos players insist their dispute with Football Federation Australia will not
disrupt preparations for their matches against the Netherlands and Oman.
As reports emerged of problems with negotiations over a new collective bargaining
deal, players were on Thursday playing down the dispute, saying it was "very minor"
and had been "blown out of proportion".
The reports suggested Socceroos players had considered striking from media and
commercial commitments on Wednesday, before an in-principle agreement was reached to
give the players a 20 per cent pay rise.
Any official agreement is still yet to be signed, with the Australian Professional
Footballers' Association telling AAP on Thursday negotiations were still ongoing.
The issue has threatened to impact on Saturday's friendly against the Netherlands at
the Sydney Football Stadium as well as next week's crucial Asian Cup qualifier
against Oman in Melbourne.
But midfielder Jason Culina was adamant on Thursday it had not affected the squad.
"It's something very minor, I think it's been blown out of proportion," Culina said.
"It's been ongoing for a couple of years now, I think it's coming to a point where
it has to be solved and that's about it.
"I've always said I want to play football and that's what I'm here for so hopefully
it can be sorted as quick as possible and we can concentrate on games."
Culina also downplayed suggestions the dispute could affect the younger members of
the squad.
"I think it's good for them to listen and learn, they're going to have to take over
sooner or later," Culina said.
"It's a part of the game and it hasn't always been like this but now it's a part of
the modern game, so it's something the younger boys are going to have to learn.
Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy said there were "no problems at all" in the camp
while veteran defender Craig Moore said the players were only focused on the games
ahead.
"I'm not even interested or focused on that, that's something between the PFA and
FFA," Moore said.
"You come into camp because you want to play football and you want to play games."
It is believed the national team players are seeking a better share in revenue they
help generate for the game in Australia.
As part of the agreement they would reportedly get increased match payments,
royalties and they are also want single rooms at next year's World Cup base camp in
Johannesburg.
Pim Verbeek's squad trained for the first time ahead of Saturday's match, with
Celtic's Scott McDonald and Palermo's Mark Bresciano the only absentees.
Both were delayed after picking up knocks in their club games on the weekend but are
expected to arrive by Friday.