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I’ve been following a story about Alex Brosque and J-League team Shimizu S-Pulse, and over the past 24 hours it has taken a turn that really worries me a great deal. This story has potentially many implications.
I’d really appreciate hearing more on this story from someone who knows a bit more about Sydney FC, because if the facts are what they appear to be, I’m on the verge of writing a thorough excoriation of that club.
If my information is correct, what Sydney have done over the past 24 hours is very close to triggering a row – perhaps even a formal legal battle – between the J-League and Australian football in general, which could easily spin out of control.
The way I hear it, S-Pulse approached the club quite openly, made an offer for Brosque that met the requirements of his buy-out clause, and were told that it was “not enough”.
Two days later they approached Sydney again, with a second offer. This was also deemed as being “too stingy”, despite what I hear from sources in Japan that it was twice his original buy-out amount.
After refusing the deal and having Brosque subsequently become angry at Sydney FC for damaging his future, the club suddenly comes up with an explosive charge that S-Pulse “illegally approached the player”.
If a public charge like that were not explosive enough, they even threatened to file a complaint with FIFA and pursue unspecified “legal action” against Shimizu S-Pulse.
All this because S-Pulse had the unmitigated nerve to offer both Sydney FC and Brosque a ton of money. And this claim of an “illegal approach” comes despite the fact that the two clubs had been negotiating openly over a transfer, for almost a week.
Can this be right?
I’d love to hear a more detailed explanation from anyone who follows the club, and if Sydney has any shred of credibility or any mitigating excuse on the matter, I’d like to know about it.
Based on what I’ve read up to now, it seems that Sydney FC is now just one step away from permanently burning down any potential bridges between Australian and Japanese football.
If they really do file a complaint to FIFA against S-Pulse, it will be the last time any J-League club deals with an A-League club on any matter whatsoever.
I don’t mean to make that sound “threatening”, but this situation really worries me. I’ve been dealing with J-League teams for over 15 years and I have to say … the way the situation has been reported here in Japan sounds ominous.
In Japan, if you take legal action against someone, you might as well burn their house down and kick their dog, because it can’t possibly make relations between you any worse.
If anyone knows more about this situation, or has an opinion, please leave a comment here.
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