Soccer-Australia women boycott camp in pay dispute

SYDNEY, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Australia's women's soccer team have boycotted a training camp ahead of their tour of the United States as part of the ongoing dispute over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with Football Federation Australia (FFA). The men's national team also boycotted promotional activities ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Perth last week in the row between the FFA and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA). "This was an extremely difficult decision to make," goalkeeper Lydia Williams said in a PFA news release. "However it's simply unfair to continue to expect us to make enormous sacrifices to play for Australia. "For the past two months the players have been unpaid and have made every attempt to reach an agreement that gives the women's game a platform for growth." The FFA condemned the PFA for not giving notice of the action and said the matches against the world champion United States on Sept. 17 and 19 were now in doubt. "It's sad that the Matildas have been dragged into a dispute that's primarily about the A-League," said FFA chief executive David Gallop. "The offer to the Matildas would basically double their pay over the next four years. "FFA will continue to pursue an agreement that's sensible and protects the interests of the game, it's time to reach agreement and stop the game-playing." (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Amlan Chakraborty)