One of football’s worst-kept secrets was confirmed this afternoon when the FFA announced that Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji would not line up for the A-League All Stars against Manchester United in a fortnight’s time.
After making strong impacts in their first season in the A-League, the trio were all picked by fans in the online selection process where fans voted for their All Star line-up.
FFA CEO David Gallop confirmed that none of the three marquee players would line up in the game.
“Alessandro, Shinji and Emile have turned on great performances and brought a huge global and national profile to the Hyundai A-League, so naturally the fans wanted to see them face Manchester United,” he said.
“But we respect the fact that their personal circumstances at this time mean the All Stars game arrives at a difficult period for them to manage a one-off appearance.”
The withdrawal of the trio now makes a total of six unavailable players from the initial 15-man squad after Marco Rojas (overseas transfer), Patrick Zwaanswijk (retirement) and Adama Traore (injury) already declared themselves unavailable.
All-Stars coach Ange Postecoglou is expected to name the full squad ahead of a week-long training camp beginning on July 13.
Already Thomas Broich (Brisbane Roar), Brett Emerton (Sydney FC), Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bridge, Ante Covic, Youssouf Hersi and Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Western Sydney Wanderers) have been confirmed in the side.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Getting paid in an exhibition game? Your kidding. The joe public want to watch Man city play not the 'A' League fill ins
p.Tah
Guest
Would have Del Piero, Ono and Heskey just asked for too high a match payment to play?
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Definitely want to see the new Brazilian fellow signed, exciting down the right
Nathan of Perth
Guest
OT: just got to have a chat with the Glory players ahead of their preseason game - Sidnei the Brazilian import will be playing in Miller's number and Nagai is here :D
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
It has been reported David Moyes have confirmed that Young, Smalling, Chicarito & Nani will all miss the trip to Australia. Only the day-trippers will be affected by this and, let's be honest, most day-trippers don't understand a thing about football, so who really cares if they're disappointed ... as long as their cheques have cleared.
Sneaky backheel
Guest
It's disappointing but overall doesn't really matter, people are going to see Man U, not the All-stars. They're the ones that you can't see live on the weekends.
Ian
Guest
considering Ono is in the country it's disappointing he's not playing. Poppa made that call didn't he.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I think its a big public relations mistake the FFA must have foreseen that this was a definite possibility when they set the date for the game it makes the fan vote part of it a farcical waste of time and a betrayal in a way of their input into the game badly done FFA I hope lessons are learnt from this for next time