Cash dispute: Wanderers players are unhappy about the distribution of prize money from the ACL and other major events. Photo: Wolter Peeters

Western Sydney Wanderers were a club in turmoil on Sunday night, with players warned they face termination if they carry out a threat to boycott the Club World Cup over a pay dispute.

The relationship between the players and the club's management is on the verge of a complete breakdown following a disagreement over the distribution of prize money from the intercontinental tournament in Morocco, which begins on Wednesday.

The Professional Footballers' Association and the Wanderers players held crisis talks at Sydney Airport on Sunday evening in a last-ditch attempt to resolve the disagreement, but were left frustrated when the club's management failed to attend or respond to any correspondence. The players boarded their flight as scheduled after the meeting.

The Wanderers have enjoyed significant success in their short history as an A-League club. Photo: Getty Images

The club is refusing to increase its offer of a 10 per cent share of the minimum $1.2 million prize money on offer in Morocco. 

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Wanderers management says that because the Club World Cup is not covered by the PFA's collective bargaining agreement, the club is not obliged to share prize money with the players. The PFA has advised the players that if the tournament is not deemed to be covered in the agreement, the players are under no obligation to participate. 

"This technical interpretation by the club defeats the letter as well as the spirit and intent of the CBA. The CBA is designed to see players progressively rewarded for their progress through an ACL campaign as the revenues increase to offset the early costs of the campaign," PFA chief executive Adam Vivian said.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic. Photo: Getty Images

"The PFA has advised the players that, if the club's interpretation of the CBA is correct, then the players are not obliged to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup absent an agreement on pay as the CBA would therefore be silent and uncertain on the question of remuneration. This technical interpretation would make the CBA unworkable at this most important juncture for the game. Accordingly, the PFA does not believe the club's interpretation is correct."

The players called for a 50 per cent share of the purse to fall in line with the dividends associated with the Asian Champions League final and many other major events. The players approached the club with a willingness to negotiate an agreement but were denied. Their preference is to resolve the matter as soon as possible and play against Cruz Azul on December 13.

The players also presented the option for independent arbitration, which the club also refused to entertain.

A 50-50 split, after costs, was the precedent set by Adelaide United when they were the last Australian club to reach the Club World Cup in 2008.

The Wanderers' dismissal of that precedent is understood to have infuriated the players and their union. Sources close to the playing group labelled the offer as a "complete disregard" for the players' contribution, workload, achievements and sacrifice and called it "unfair" remuneration. 

The players had been informed the club was withholding most of the prize money from the Club World Cup to fund future projects, such as the training centre, offices and a youth academy to be built at Blacktown International Sportspark.

While the players were supportive of the club's ambitious plans, there was frustration that this project did not hinge on their qualification for the Club World Cup as plans and funding models were well advanced before they won the Asian Champions League title. 

More so, members of the playing squad are insulted by the club's refusal to seek common ground over the prize money especially as many returned to pre-season early to be fit for the Asian Champions League knock-out stages. Players feel their personal sacrifices, including playing through injury, and missing important events such as weddings and funerals due to travel have been ignored by the club's management.

Players incur a higher tax rate on prize money as it is deemed a secondary income meaning each player competing in the Club World Cup will receive approximately $2500. 

The club pocketed half of the $1.5 million prize for winning the Asian Champions League final, an additional $200,000 in bonuses from sponsors relating to the victory and up to $800,000 for Club World Cup sponsors, merchandise and other commercial opportunities.

The club recently extended its front-of-shirt and naming rights sponsorship deal for three years for a significantly larger figure than the previous deal.

With opportunities for financial incentives significantly limited in the salary-capped A-League, the PFA regarded prize money distribution for international competitions as a rare opportunity for players to gain other sources of income.  Players from both the Wanderers and other A-League clubs took to social media in support of the western Sydney club.