Matildas at war as FIFTEEN players are wiped from the history books in shocking row

A major row has erupted among former Matildas players after 15 former players were struck from the record books this week.

On Monday, Football Australia announced it had revised its record books to confirm that a team from 1975 is now considered the first Australian women’s national soccer team.

The decision caused unrest among former Matildas players and divided an already hostile group of stars.

Julie Dolan led the backlash against the decision, having previously been recognised as the Matildas’ first captain.

She captained the Australian women’s national football team against New Zealand in 1979. This was once regarded as the first Matildas match, but is no longer seen as a historic moment.

Football Australia’s U-turn also means that the 15 members of the original 1979 team have been erased from the record books.

The 1975 team has now been recognised and all players in that team are given the title Matilda No. 0.

Dolan remains the Matilda number 1 squad member, but as she was also part of the 1975 team, she will also be seen as Matilda number 0.

The team that toured Hong Kong in 1975 is now recognised as the first Australian women’s team, meaning the 1979 team no longer holds that title

The 1975 class was previously not recognised because most of the players were members of the same Sydney club – 1975 St George Budapest – and no national selection process was conducted.

But the team represented Australia at an international tournament in Asia against New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore in Hong Kong.

The tournament is now also referred to as the first-ever Women’s Asian Cup.

But Dolan has a different view to Football Australia, despite them doing the same tour.

“I want to emphasize that there was no testing and that women from clubs in other states, or any club for that matter, were not invited to audition for this tournament,” Dolan said in a statement.

‘For the FA to now recognise this club team as the ‘first Matildas’ is a farce in the selection process for a national team and utterly ridiculous.’

Dolan added that she will turn down Football Australia’s offer to be recognised as one of 16 players with a ‘zero cap’.

The FA, which dismissed the 1975 team’s case last year, has yet to explain why it changed its mind.

Julie Dolan, who captained the 1979 team but was also part of the 1975 squad, has expressed her anger at the decision

Pat O’Connor was captain of the team in 1975 and led her team to national team status.

According to the ABC, O’Connor was captain of the St George Budapest team and was secretary of the Australian Women’s Soccer Association at the time. He was also approached directly by international soccer officials about an Australian team participating in the competition in Hong Kong.

“This recognition and acknowledgement as the ‘first Matildas’ not only celebrates our efforts and dedication, but also affirms our place in Australian football history as the pioneers of the women’s game,” O’Connor said.

“It is a moment of immense pride for all of us, and I am grateful for the recognition of our contributions to the sport we love.”