Matildas players are not allowed by Football Federation Australia (FFA) to play for Italian teams competing in the Italian league (Serie A). It is a tournament that features all but one of the Italian team's protagonists in their 2 – 1 victory against Australia in the opening game of the FIFA Women's World Cup in France last Sunday.
Barbara Bonansea, who scored the two goals for Italy, and captain Sara Gama play for Italian champions Juventus FC alongside many of the teammates, while the rest of the squad plays among the women's sides of football royalty such as AC Milan, AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina.
But when Italy and Europe's football giants AC Milan attempted to sign Matildas' Lisa Marie De Vanna last year, they learned that the Sydney FC forward would have not been allowed to play in Italy by her obligations as a Matildas player.
This is a paradox, according to former AC Milan manager Carolina Morace, who spoke to Italian media about an Italian side made of players from the domestic league beating the Australians at the World Cup. That is, an Australian team whose players would not be allowed to join the Italian league, due to it not being considered competitive enough for those women to take part in.
A spokesperson at the FFA told SBS Italian that players can play in any League of their choice.
However, contracted Westfield Matildas players are required to play in Australia's Westfield W-League unless they are contracted to play for a club in the top tier of one of the following international leagues during a W-League season: Division 1 Féminine (France), Bundesliga (Germany) and Damallsvenskan (Sweden).
The spokesperson added, "I also understand that we've also agreed in recent seasons for players to miss the W-League season and play in Spain too".
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