Australia NewsBuckley Gives Reds Sweet FFA |
ADELAIDE have admitted they're "disappointed" that FFA would not help them move A-League fixtures around their Asian Champions League semifinal.
United presented FFA with possible options of moving their October 26 match against Perth Glory and 8 November against the Central Coast Mariners to the next two FIFA breaks, due to the scheduling and travel requirements for the games against Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan.However, FFA CEO Ben Buckley said the set dates set aside for FIFA Match Day Breaks would remain as is to ensure Socceroos Coach Pim Verbeek had the best preparations possible for international matches.
"We're very disappointed that our request couldn't be accommodated in what is an increasingly busy and very difficult schedule," Reds CEO Sam Ciccarello said.
"We're delighted to have progressed so far in this prestigious competition but certainly this is a bit of a setback in terms of our ability to get the best out of our playing squad."
"We know the FFA have looked at this from every possible which way and we're disappointed with the response that we did get, but we need to get on with it and that's what we are doing."
Buckley defended the decision, saying: "These weekends are designated as FIFA match day breaks.
"Australian football coaches and administrators have long argued that the FIFA break be adhered to when scheduling the Hyundai A-League competition, consistent with domestic leagues around the world.
"We want to ensure there is maximum flexibility for Pim Verbeek in selecting the best possible squad for international matches, and we don't want to deprive Hyundai A-League players the opportunity to play for the Qantas Socceroos if selected."
He said agreeing to Adelaide's request would also create a "complex precedent" in the event that more than one team progressed through the Asian Champions League in future years.
Buckley added: "It would not be possible to move multiple games around in the Hyundai A-League if this situation occurred in future."
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