the Australian A-League, the league that unifies the men’s and women’s leagues

Same name, same colors and same visual identity. On the social networks of the A-Leagues, the professional football championships of Australia, where the World Cup is played, publications for men’s, women’s and even national teams are mixed. In 2021, the very recent Australian football league has chosen to bring its championships together under the same banner, in particular to promote women’s football.

Today, in Australia, the A-League Men and the A-League Women (without forgetting the A-League Youth, the youth championship) rub shoulders every weekend of the season, which runs from October to May. Eleven clubs in common share name, crest and jersey in two closed leagues which end in play-offs until a grand final. The only difference, on paper, is the title sponsor of the two championships: the engine manufacturer and vehicle manufacturer Isuzu UTE for the men, the Liberty loan organization for the women.

A model that differs from the operation in France, where the men’s and women’s championships are not organized in the same way, do not only have clubs in common, and do not even depend on the same body. Ligue 1 has been managed for decades by the Professional Football League, while D1 is played under the aegis of the French Football Federation.

“It’s not men’s or women’s football, it’s just football”

In Australia, the organization of the championships is intrinsically linked to the creation of the Australian professional league, the professional league of the country, in 2021. One of the first measures of the organization was this restructuring, to replace the W-League, created in 2008, within the unified A-League. “It’s not men’s football or women’s football, it’s just football”said the director of the APL, Danny Townsend. “They are a bit hand in hand, it’s completely different from what can happen in France”says Antoine Blanchet-Quérin, founder of the Outback football site, which specializes in Australian football.

“They assume that we’re going to support an emblem, regardless of genre.”

Antoine Blanchet-Quérin, founder of the Outback football website

at franceinfo: sport

The body has worked to develop the women’s championship according to the same model as the men’s. “They did a great job on the development of the women’s league. A few years ago there were few teams and only first legs, so the championship lasted seven or eight games”remembers Margot Robinne, the only French player in the league. “Next year, for the first time, there are going to be twelve teams and all home and away matches.” “When a new franchise is created for boys, in the specifications a new women’s team must be created”explains Antoine Blanchet-Quérin.

In terms of information and communication, all content is now brought together in one place, on a common website. “There is no need to go looking for news anymore. You go to the A-League portal, you have content on girls and boys”, assures Margot Robinne. The development has also made it possible to ensure better exposure of women’s matches, with all matches broadcast in streaming and some directly on TV.

Still challenges ahead

To deepen the idea of ​​equality, the League also decided to launch, two years ago, the Championship Club, a combined championship of the two sections of each club. “They take the number of points accumulated to create a mixed championship and at the awards ceremony, it is the two captains who come to raise it”, explains Antoine Blanchet-Quérin. This season, the Melbourne team won with 85 points.

The identity change has brought more spotlight to Australian women’s football, although many challenges still remain. “The same problems continue to arise, on the programming of matches, meetings during the summer, in difficult climatic conditions…”, abounds Angela Christian-Wilkes, writer specializing in Australian women’s football. She explains that many supporters are waiting for new concrete announcements to continue the development of women’s football.

Because on the ground, the economic realities are not egalitarian either. “There remains this difference that the men’s section has much more means. We are not going to hide it, it’s the same everywhere”, notes Margot Robinne. But for the French player, the effects of the new A-League will be seen “probably more in the long term”.