AN A-League strike is a real prospect for the first time, after players reacted with fury to being told their bosses no longer have to recognise their union.

In what was being described on the players’ side as “unprecedented step”, they were told Football Federation Australia had pulled out of the agreement that has governed all relations between FFA and players since 2007.

Though FFA insist they want to replace it with a new agreement, the move marks a radical amplification of the pay-and-conditions dispute that has spiralled since last season, as negotiations over a new pay deal (CBA) have broken down amid acrimony on both sides.

For the first time, PFA bosses are refusing to rule out strike action two months out from the start of the A-League’s 11th season.

The so-called Memorandum of Understanding commits FFA to collective bargaining with the PFA, as well as to the independent grievance process that players and clubs use to settle disputes. It also governs player welfare programmes and club v country issues over international call-ups.

The MoU expires on Friday, and FFA have written to the PFA to say it will not roll over while negotiations continue. It has underpinned all negotiations for the past eight years, but talks over a “whole-of-game” collective pay deal - taking in the Socceroos, Matildas and the A-League - have foundered in recent months, with claims of officials storming out of meetings as tensions have risen.

The PFA were angered by changes to the salary cap rules announced yesterday, they claim without any consultation and which freeze the overall cap for the next two seasons - although greater allowances outside it were also introduced.

“The announcement unilaterally imposes the salary cap freeze rejected by the players in the CBA negotiations which will largely undermine the reforms and place even greater pressure on the A-League’s core player group,” said PFA CEO Adam Vivian.

“FFA has left the PFA and the players with no option but to take the necessary steps to secure the rights and wellbeing of Socceroos, Matildas and A-League players under Australian industrial law.”

It’s understood that all options are now on the table, including industrial action for the first time.

But A-League boss Damien De Bohun rejected the idea that FFA would seek to derecognise the union, and said the union had been advised of the salary cap changes a week ago.

He insisted that all the changes to the salary cap had been made under the terms of the MoU, and said FFA wanted to introduce a new version of it to replace historical provisions that no longer applied.

“FFA is shocked by the inaccuracies in the PFA’s media comments of yesterday and today,” added FFA CEO David Gallop in a statement.

“FFA continues to be committed to ensuring an appropriate MOU is agreed between FFA and the PFA, as part of a CBA, and any assertion that FFA intended to move forward without a CBA or MOU is wrong.

“FFA will continue to recognise the PFA and the role it plays and was preparing for an agreed face-to-face meeting with the PFA regarding the CBA this morning, which was cancelled by the PFA after the scheduled start time.”