I'm excited about the Women's World Cup.  I'm doubly excited that it is being played here. I am also as excited when the Matildas play an international game as I am the Socceroos.  Whenever a person, whether male or female, puts on the national shirt I will support them.  I won't be going to any games for health reasons but I will watch all the games I can.

On the matter of equal pay, professional players get paid according to their ability and the club's ability to pay so players get paid different amounts and professional female players get paid less than men as a result of their ability to generate less revenue for their clubs.  When it comes to representing their nation all players should get the same whether male or female and they should get paid the same whether they play or not.  The value of being a national representative is priceless and remuneration should take account of the honour bestowed on each individual and not be excessive or tarnished with arguments about unequal worth.

Never pegged you as a marxist, mono. Some of it is unfortunately being  driven by a "each according to his need" mantra. The only way equality and fairness can be encapsulated is with equal nominal amounts on the balance sheet. Participation rates, cultural preferences, # games played, etc etc are just relics of misogynist patriarchal society and therefore dont enter the conversation. That's why FFA, USA and other federations have adopted equal outcome polices in regards to national team pay. It is INEVITABLE that soon the conversation will steer towards other forms, such as domestic competition. As we have seen here in League female state of original players receive the same as men. Its only the start. This will happen regardless of what happens at a grassroots level, because the conversation clearly transcends mere economics and has become very political and ideological.