It’s already the most disrupted season since the A-League’s introduction and there are more rocks in the road ahead.
It’s all in pursuit of greater glory – in the Asian Cup, the Asian Champions League and further internationals – but it’s only now the full schedule is unfolding.
January’s Asian Cup will put locally based Socceroos players out of the league for three rounds as they join Ange Postecoglou’s camp in Melbourne.
While the A-League stops for two weekends while group games are played, if Australia makes the final, they’ll miss another two matches – before any rest period needs to be considered.
Earlier plans to bring in Socceroos for two pre-Christmas training camps have been abandoned, avoiding further potential clashes.
But there is another conflict looming in March, when the Socceroos play a friendly in Germany while the Olyroos attempt to qualify for the Asian Under-23 Championship in Taiwan.
That means double-trouble for A-League coaches as the season reaches a climax.
It’s the same situation as last month when Australia’s friendly with Japan coincided with an Olyroos tournament in China.
As the matches are in FIFA-designated international windows, A-League coaches have to grin and bear it.
Aurelio Vidmar – Olyroos coach and Socceroos assistant – said as long as the A-League refused to break for international dates, the clashes would continue.
“That’s how it is,” he told AAP.
“They are the dates, they’re FIFA dates, it’s a bonus for us because we shouldn’t have too many problems getting overseas-based players, which has been a major issue in the past.”
While the bulk of Socceroos play abroad, most Olyroos – Australia’s Under-23 side – play in the A-League.
Just six A-League players were named in the latest national squad, but a dozen of the 22-man Olyroos squad called up for their friendly tournament in China last month were from A-League clubs.
Former Socceroos captain Vidmar can see both sides as the Adelaide United coach, but dismissed the idea of going easy on clubs.
“We need to go into every game with the strongest possible group,” he said.
“In the past they’ve had qualifiers in the off-season, it’s been good for the A-League clubs but it hasn’t been good for us because they’re in an off-season period.
“I feel for (A-League clubs) because I’ve been on that side as well, but unfortunately I’m not the one who sets the dates.”
Vidmar’s side plays hosts Taiwan, Myanmar (Burma) and Hong Kong in the March qualifiers for the Qatar 2016 Asian Championship.
FFA Chief executive David Gallop told Fairfax Media last month a loss in revenue had to be a major consideration in the scheduling mix.
“The commercial reality for our owners who heavily invest in their clubs is that stopping the A-League for FIFA windows will adversely affect our broadcast value,” he said.
“That’s less money coming into the game. That affects the sustainability of the A-League and its clubs, and puts future expansion at risk.”
In other words, don’t count on the A-League breaking for international fixtures any time soon.
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