The FFA does pay the Matildas, and the women certainly deserve a rise, although how much of a case has been muddied by an aggressive propaganda campaign launched by the PFA. That the union employed a PR company to promulgate the message tells you the headline-hungry Adam Vivian knew exactly where the sweet spot of public sentiment was.

Fact is, the FFA has erred in allowing the three player groups to be bundled into one discussion because it's only served to disguise where the real issue lies. A regime of pay and conditions for the Socceroos which has made them one of the most spoilt teams in world football. And now the PFA wants more.

The hot-button item is match payments, even if they don't make up the bulk of the costs associated with putting the Socceroos on the park. On average, the players share around $1.5 million in match fees per year (much more in a tournament year), out of overall costs of around $12 million. Business class flights, five-star hotels and daily allowances also contribute substantially to the bill. As it stands, the Socceroos chew up about 60 per cent of the international budget (there are nine national teams), which helps explain the stark comparison to the Matildas.

But it's match fees at the core. Two points. Should they even be paid and, if so, how much? The English players for instance, receive about half the pay of the Socceroos. And anecdotally, the vast majority of the 209 national teams around the world don't get paid at all.

New Zealand don't. Three weeks ago – just as the Socceroos were working to rule in Perth – the local PFA quietly signed a new deal which, once again, didn't include match fees. Given the close ties between the two unions, it's an interesting contrast. And if you think the All Whites are a pub team happy to get a free tracksuit, think again. Tommy Smith is captain of Ipswich Town, Chris Wood just became Leeds United's most expensive signing in more than a decade, Winston Reid (West Ham) is rated as one of the best defenders in the EPL, Dutch-based Ryan Thomas is being monitored by PSV, Bill Tuiloma recently signed a three-year deal at Olympique Marsellie. And so on. In other words, a group of professionals who – like the Socceroos – play in decent leagues and are being paid decent wages by their clubs but who – unlike the Socceroos – don't expect to be paid for playing for their country.