Hope Iffs names and shames the insurance company. Then I'll know who to avoid when I finally make it as a pro footballer.
It's ACC
Correct - insured under the FFA's "A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement" (as extended July 2013):
The insurance is with a private insurance company - probably some part of Australasia's biggest insurance company "Insurance Australia Group" (IAG) who own State and AMI in NZ too.
Paul Ifill will be dealing with his local branch of the insurers - so what I say above about insurance companys' reluctance to pay out influenced by the Christchurch earthquakes still holds.
Relevant PFA Australia document about player insurance:
http://www.pfa.net.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Fact_Sheets/PFA%20-%20Injury%20Payments.pdf
"From 6 July 2007, players are entitled to receive their annual salary, match payments and superannuation due under
their Standard Player Contracts for each match missed through injury, illness or ailment sustained out of or in the
course of employment with an A-League club. (*Marquee players as well as Guest players are not automatically entitled
to Match Payments but are free to negotiate their own protection on an individual basis)."
"Under the terms of FFA’s income insurance policy (which is now enshrined at Schedule 3 to the CBA), you are entitled
to income insurance for 104 weeks which continues notwithstanding the expiry of your playing contract. You are
insured by FFA at your actual rate of earnings, including match payments.
You will be paid directly by the insurance company and not by your club after the end of your contract unless you sign a new contract with your club."
Collective Bargaining Agreement extended July 2013 (through to 2015):
[New agreement includes] "retention of arguably the world’s best player injury protection scheme, featuring full protection for contracted players, income insurance for 104 weeks for injured players out of contract (now capped at $350,000 p.a.) and career ending insurance (1 - 10 years annual salary based on age, capped at $500,000)."