Tumultuous is a word closely linked to the A-League and this week was no different.
Check out this week’s compilation of the biggest stories in Australian football.
- Proposed changes to the visa system:
As reported earlier this week in The Sydney Morning Herald, the PFA, club owners and the FFA are discussing the potential opportunities of increasing the amount of foreign marquee players from two to five.
By having five players exempt from the $3.2 million salary cap, this would be aimed to improve the quality of the competition, attracting sponsors and be the first inkling of a breakaway from the salary cap system utilised in most Australian sports.
The purpose of the salary cap was to as the A-League put it is to ‘facilitate competitive balance and parity between Clubs by ensuring that the playing talent is distributed amongst the Hyundai A-League Clubs’. With the gap between league leaders Sydney FC and bottom Central Coast Mariners stretching 30 points, , there is added weight to this debated notion of reforming the salary cap.
The Mariners have reportedly requested that they should be able to sell off their visa slots.
Officials from the AFCPA will meet on Thursday to cast their votes on whether all foreign players should be exempt from the salary cap as reported by The Advertiser
2. Transfer system on the cards in the A-League for FFA CEO James Johnson
A-League clubs aren’t allowed to have intra-club transfers. Newly-elected FFA CEO has vied for changes to this system in his interview with Adam Peacock on the Fox Football Podcast and as reported in The Herald Sun.
He suggests perhaps rewarding NPL Clubs who develop players who end up at A-League sides. Currently, there is minimal financial compensation for the NPL clubs, providing little incentive to continually develop these types of players.
‘If we have a proper transfer system in place domestically, clubs will invest more in youth development as they’ll see value in holding the registration of the player. At the moment that’s seen as a cost.’
3. Champions League Fixture Change
Perth Glory will play its Asian Champions League fixture against Ulsan Hyundai in Perth after initial proposals to play the match in Korea behind closed doors.
Both the J1 and the K-League have postponed fixtures as a result of the coronavirus, with the Glory refusing to travel to Korea to face Ulsan and threatened with potential suspension from the tournament.
Albeit cooler heads prevailed with the AFC opting to reverse the fixtures instead.
4. Graham Arnold’s selection dilemmas and plea to Scott Morrison
Australia has been invited to participate in the Copa America, unfortunately they will not be able to automatically release players from their respective clubs.
As reported by The World Game, Arnold says he “will do my best to get all the best players out at the Copa America,”
He will have Plan A, B and C, with impending World Cup Qualification games and an Olympic campaign with the Olyroos to take care of.
In other news, Graham Arnold has lamented the lack of funding for the Olyoos and Australian football, calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to “step up and help us with some money because at the end of the day, we are a world game”
Football’s funding by the Federal Government had recently been cut as of 2018.
5. Adelaide youngsters courting interest overseas
19 year old striker Al Hassan Toure, as well as the youngest ever A-League scorer and brother Mohamed have reportedly had scouts sent by English Premier League clubs in order to track their progress. Mo Toure recently scored against the Mariners at the tender age of 15, going viral.
In addition, recently signed midfielder Riley McGree is attracting plenty of interest in Europe after his performances this season as reported by The Advertiser
