Professional Footballers Australia to host first Agents Conference in over two years

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The PFA
Image provided by Professional Footballers Australia

For the first time in two years, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) will host its annual PFA Agents Conference at its Melbourne headquarters.

Australian player agents and leading experts from the football industry will convene on September 30 for the 2022 Conference, which provides the opportunity for accredited player agents to discuss areas of shared importance and the management of talent within football.

Confirmed speakers include the Managing Director of the Australian Professional Leagues Danny Townsend, human rights lawyer and CEO of sport and social impact organisation Athlead Kat Craig, FIFPRO Legal Director Roy Vermeer, PFA Co-Chief Executives Beau Busch and Kathryn Gill and PFA staff.

The Conference is an annual initiative between the PFA and the Australian Football Agents Association (AFAA), with the 2022 Conference covering topics impacting both agents and the management of professional players, including:

  • Agent regulations and reforms;
  • The International Transfer Market;
  • Training compensation;
  • Player welfare and development;
  • Domestic legal update;
  • Athlete abuse and safeguarding;
  • An overview of the Australian Professional Leagues’ vision and strategy; and
  • A summary of the 2021-2026 A-Leagues collective bargaining agreement

PFA Co-Chief Executive Kathryn Gill said in a PFA statement:

“The conference is a wonderful opportunity for agents, players and professional clubs to collaborate on issues impacting the global football industry and to have everyone in the same room after two years will provide a productive platform.

“For the football industry to thrive, regular and transparent dialogue on the major issues and regulations within the sport are required, particularly if we are to drive further professionalism within the sport and safeguard players’ welfare and rights.”

Vice President of the AFAA Boris Ivanov said via PFA:

“We are very excited that we will once again be able to meet with colleagues, members of the PFA, the APL and other professionals in the football industry in person to discuss, learn and debate some of the key issues impacting the game and in particular players and their representatives.

“I encourage every football intermediary to make the time to attend the conference, ideally in person, but if that’s not possible then online. The learnings from these conferences are invaluable and in future will potentially form part of the continuous education and development programs that will be required to maintain accreditation.”

The 2021 edition was postponed last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, before being held online. This Conference in September will be held in person at the PFA offices in West Melbourne.

Accredited agents can sign up to attend the conference here.

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AC Milan and Puma Unveil New 2026/27 Away Kit

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Image Credit: AC Milan S.p.A.
AC Milan and Puma have officially unveiled the clubs the new 2026/27 away kit, a timeless white kit that celebrates resilience, heritage and the winning mentality that has defined the Rossoneri for generations.

Inspired by the phrase “after Istanbul, there is always Athens” the kit pays tribute to AC Milan’s triumph in the 2007 Champions League Final in Athens following their defeat in Istanbul in 2005. The message printed on the back of the collar, reflects the club’s enduring spirit and serves as a reminder that every setback can become the foundation for future success.

Leading the campaign is club legend Filipo Inzaghi who scored two goals to lead AC Milan in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, embodying the determination, resilience and hunger that continues to define AC Milan’s identity.

Every detail on this years away kit reinforces this story. Gold accents and a laurel wrapped club crest celebrates a storied history of success, while the authentic version features the Greek inscription “Δύναμη Ψυχής” (“Strength of Spirit”) inside the collar. A subtle phoenix wing woven into the fabric symbolises renewal, resilience and the Club’s commitment to continually rising to new challenges.

The authentic jersey is engineered with PUMA’s advanced ULTRAWEAVE fabric, complemented by dryCELL and ThermoAdapt technologies to deliver lightweight feel and optimal performance. The replica version brings the same identity combining the same striking design with everyday wearability and is made with RE technology, incorporating 95% recycled polyester sourced from textile waste.

The new AC Milan 2026/27 Away Kit is available now through AC Milan Official Stores, the Club’s online store, PUMA and selected retailers worldwide.

Football NSW builds life‑saving network as cardiac safety push expands

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has distributed 20 defibrillators to associations and regional clubs through its Every Beat Matters campaign, part of a broader push to improve cardiac emergency preparedness across the state’s football network.

Sixteen of the devices were presented to participating associations at the inaugural Football NSW Association Championships in Mudgee. A further four went to regional clubs: Cowra and District Soccer Club, Westside Panthers, Yerrinbool Bargo Soccer Club and Narooma Football Club.

The rollout builds on the Heartbeat of Sport AED Mapping Project, which is mapping defibrillator placement at sporting facilities across NSW with funding from the Minns Labor Government. Twelve football associations have joined the effort, including Eastern Suburbs, Manly Warringah, Granville, Southern Districts, Nepean, Northern Suburbs, Football Canterbury, Bankstown, Hills, Sutherland Shire, North West Sydney Football and Football South Coast.

Data collected through the mapping project is being fed into NSW Ambulance’s GoodSAM emergency response system and NSW Health’s public AED map, enabling first responders to locate nearby defibrillators in real time.

The initiative responds to a gap that had gone largely unexamined. More than 2,400 defibrillators have been deployed across NSW sports facilities through the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, which offers grants of up to $3,000 to eligible organisations. But a device not registered in emergency response systems provides significantly less value than one that is accurately mapped and immediately locatable.

The urgency is not abstract. At Doyalson Wyee Football Club, a 70‑year‑old player survived a sudden on‑field cardiac arrest because an AED was available on site. Survival rates drop by about 10 per cent for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is also establishing a long‑term defibrillator register to track equipment distribution, access and maintenance across all 636 clubs and 31 associations. The Every Beat Matters campaign, supported by Toyota and St John Ambulance, aims to raise about $240,000 through a raffle to fund an initial rollout of 65 defibrillators to clubs currently without access, prioritising regional and lower socio‑economic areas.

The #HeartHealthMatters Program is delivering CPR and AED familiarisation training to sporting organisations, with a particular focus on regional communities where ambulance response times are often longer and volunteer bases smaller.

The ambition, in the words of project organisers, is straightforward: that no preventable death occurs on a football ground because the right equipment was not there, or could not be found.

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