The Scott Emerson Drive Show has uncovered what appears to be a funding shortfall for one of the state’s most popular sporting codes.

The state government says it’s delivered $34 million in funding for soccer over the past seven years.

But figures provided to The Scott Emerson Drive Show indicate verified investments into local soccer clubs totalled just over $10 million.

A Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport spokesperson denies there is a funding shortfall, maintaining the government has invested the full $34 million.

• Scroll down to read the full statement from the department

However, the state government has declined providing evidence to refute numbers provided to The Scott Emerson Drive Show.

Football Queensland CEO Rob Cavallucci told Scott Emerson the sport is chronically underfunded in Australia.

“When it comes to government funding, and figures quoted by governments, it’s probably a question best put to governments it’s not something I can specific answer as the governing body of the sport in Queensland,” he said.

“It’s always difficult to compare and contrast the numbers we look at it for community sports funding versus numbers government may use for funding they put into sport, and football more broadly.”

He says while they celebrate the investment into all sports, soccer has the highest participation in Queensland but receives the lowest amount of funding per player.

“But I will say that we need to look at the facts, from a football perspective, it is unequivocal that it is structurally and systemically under-funded as a game, and that’s made worse because of the scale of the game.”

He says it’s time to “keep pace” with growing communities and the increased appetite for soccer in Queensland.

Press PLAY below to hear Part One of the interview

Mr Cavallucci says it’s “deeply disappointing” there’s a lack of female facilities available in the Sunshine State.

That’s despite 11 of the 22 players due to play in the Matildas squad next week hailing from Queensland.

“It’s something, since I have come into the role as CEO in the last 2 years, [I] have set out to address,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear Part Two of the interview

Full statement from a spokesperson from the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport

“The unattributed funding assumptions claimed to reflect the Queensland Government’s investment in Football Queensland are incorrect.

“Since 2015, the Queensland Government has delivered $34 million in funding for football and futsal including $20 million in capital works.

“Excluding one-off major infrastructure projects and legacy programs co-funded by individual sporting organisations, the State Government’s funding for football is higher than the AFL.

“As a winter competition, many AFL clubs have arrangements with summer sport, such as cricket, to leverage funding for shared club infrastructure for use throughout the year.

“Other examples of shared infrastructure are the new field and changerooms at North Lakes State College which are used by North Lakes Mustangs FC and The Lakes FC, and a new FIFA standard synthetic pitch at Ipswich State High School to be shared with local football clubs and futsal.

“The Queensland Government’s Activate! Queensland Strategy is supporting increasing female participation in sport with universally designed infrastructure.

“In the last two years, the Queensland Government has invested in more than 10 projects at football clubs worth $4 million – including female friendly changerooms, referee facilities and amenities – to accommodate female footballers.  

“These include West Wanderers FC, James Cook University Strikers FC, Meakin Park, Logan Lightning FC and MA Olympic FC.

“Your statement about surplus 2015 Asian Cup funds is not correct.

“Securing major national and international sporting events is intensely competitive, therefore the Queensland Government’s investment in major events is strictly commercial-in-confidence.”