Advertisement

'Unacceptable': Players' union unloads on A-League virus fiasco

Players from three Melbourne-based A-League clubs are pictured arriving at Melbourne Airport.
Players from three Melbourne-based A-League clubs were once again stranded at the airport, unable to leave Victoria amid a second outbreak of the coronavirus. Pictures: Getty Images

The PFA has slammed the A-League's failure to get its three Melbourne teams out of Victoria, demanding the FFA delivers a resolution to complete the season.

Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Western United remain stranded in Victoria, awaiting NSW government travel exemptions, after plans to fly to Canberra fell through for the second consecutive night on Tuesday.

‘BEAUTIFUL': Jose Mourinho hails ugly fight between teammates

'WORST DECISION EVER': Outrage over 'ridiculous' VAR drama

On Monday, poor visibility at Canberra Airport prevented a late-night flight to the ACT, with players and staff left on the Tullamarine tarmac.

A day later, the three clubs aborted plans to travel to Canberra again.

In farcical scenes, the teams were on buses waiting to enter the Melbourne Airport hangar on Tuesday night when they were informed they would have to complete a 14-day hard quarantine in the ACT, during which they would be unable to train if they landed in Canberra.

"What the players and their families have had to endure over the past 48 hours is unacceptable," the PFA said in a statement.

"The lack of clarity, the ad-hoc planning and shifting commitments have left the players embarrassed, frustrated and entirely lacking confidence in the process.

"Whilst the situation is complex, what the players require is simple: a reliable and feasible plan that does not shift the game's inability to effectively manage these challenges solely on to players and their families.

"Responsibility sits with FFA to present and then execute an achievable resolution that will ensure the completion of the A-League season and does not create further distress for the players."

Melbourne clubs remain in A-League limbo

Victory, City and United will now stay in Melbourne while they await the NSW government's call on exemptions, with City planning to return to training on Wednesday.

FFA had sought border closure exemptions from the NSW government on Tuesday after the clubs did not leave Victoria before the midnight Monday deadline for Melbourne residents.

"We are in discussions with the NSW Government, and we will continue to seek the exemptions necessary for the teams to travel," A-League boss Greg O'Rourke said in a statement late on Tuesday night.

"Given the strict league and club protocols our teams have been following since 2 June 2020, combined with the fact we have not had any players or high performance staff return a positive COVID-19 testing result, we feel that we have a very good case to gain the exemptions and get the teams to NSW to complete the Hyundai A-League season, and we will make every attempt to do so."

On Tuesday, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro indicated the state government would work with the FFA regarding exemptions - though they have not been confirmed.

United are currently scheduled to play Victory on July 16, then City four days later.

The A-League's precarious situation is not one shared by the AFL, NRL and Super Rugby, who all made earlier moves to get their respective teams out of Victoria amid the state's coronavirus spike.

With Yahoo Sport Australia