Poletti 
James Johnson speaking to media on Sunday morning. Photo: Poletti
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson has debunked several reports claiming that potentially extravagant luxuries were a factor in the Matildas’ disappointing group stage exit at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Johnson says that such rumours were disappointing to hear and that the Tillies are being treated for what they are, professionals.
“The reality is we set the Matildas program up the same as what we set the Socceroos up,” he said.
“These are a great group of women, they’re great footballers, they’re playing at the biggest clubs in the world, and quite frankly, they deserve to have a program as good as the Socceroos.”
Johnson outlined that the need to invest back into the program was important in order to help it grow, reiterating that Football Australia is on the right path.
“We’re very proud of the environment that we’ve set up for the Commbank Matildas and we’re going to continue to invest. We have to continue to generate revenue, we’re going to monetise the brand and that needs to be invested back into the program to lift.
“We’ve come a long way over the past three or four years. This is a different program, the Matildas, to what it was four years ago, but the reality is, if you compare ourselves to the United States women’s program, they’re investing 300 per cent more than what we’re doing.
“I think we’re on the right path. I think we’ve made a lot of good progress, and I would say we’ll go the other way. The more we can invest in this program, the better.”
Whilst Johnson believes that scrutiny of a team’s poor performance is part of elite sport, he is critical around the language of pampering.
“We’re in the big league now. This brand is a national brand. People care about it, so the scrutiny is fine. We need to be scrutinised. The team needs to be scrutinised and the team needs to be ready for this,” he said.
“I think it’s a good thing because it shows how strong the Matildas are in the Australian community and mainstream at the moment.
“When it comes to some of the language around pampering, it’s actually silly. They’re not being pampered these Matildas. We’re investing in this program the way we should because the players deserve to be treated like professionals and they are.”
Popularity in sport always breathes criticism, especially after poor performances on the pitch. That will never change.
But Johnson’s clear stance on the off-field treatment of the Matildas points to an encouraging future for the support of Australia’s Women’s national team.