With Hyundai now severing $6 million worth of ties to the FFA and Foxtel circling ominously with a likely intention to lessen its commitment to football, some Australian fans of the beautiful game have been concerned and jumpy over the past week.
The sheer dollar impact of Hyundai’s decision to step away from its long-standing and vital corporate involvement with the game will be considerable.
Both decisions will leave holes in a budget that must right now appear about as uncomfortable as a Donald Trump press conference for the FFA board.
No one blames James Johnson and his new administrative team. It would be stupid to do so with world sport continuing to experience the global effects of COVID-19, as it continues to rage through many nations.
Thankfully, and potentially due to Australia’s remote location, sports are about to recommence. Rugby league should be the first to do so, as long as the players can behave themselves long enough to allow that to happen.
The AFL appear to not be too far behind, with a June 11 restart date appearing likely and training about to recommence for the clubs around the country.
Rugby union appears to be in a desperate state, potentially without a broadcaster. A limited domestic competition between the local Super Rugby teams is the best the game will be able to provide its fans in the short term.
A-League football is rumoured to be circling a month of action in August, when the final five rounds of home-and-away matches will be played, in addition to the finals matches that normally encompass three weeks.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
To say that the culmination of the 2019/20 A-League season will be brisk, chaotic and frantic is something of an understatement.
Playing eight weeks of football in a month will be sheer mayhem. Fun, but mayhem.
All the while, the financial implications for professional sport around the country continue to pull headlines, and rightfully so. For the A-League, a $3.2 million salary cap appears unsustainable in the near future, considering a potential slashing of the broadcast funds provided by Foxtel and the need to locate and commit a sponsor as generous and loyal as Hyundai.
Discussions around the challenges of maintaining the minimum wage for A-League players have already begun, as has talk around the task of keeping the higher paid international and marquee players in Australia for clubs who simply will not have the funds to do so.
While they are both realistic concerns in the medium term, it strikes me that the 2019/20 A-League season is likely to recommence in August and play out to a full conclusion with Sydney FC and Melbourne City battling out the grand final in a fan-less stadium.
Then, the players will remain in training for the most absurd turnaround between seasons and a start to the 2020/21 campaign some time in November.
Frankly, it all sounds a bit mad and surreal. However, fears of the death or demise of the domestic league may well have been exaggerated, with the significant issues of international travel and many countries still grappling with the effects of COVID-19 potentially protecting the Australian game from catastrophe.
With Australia appearing to have ridden the worst of the coronavirus wave and hopefully emerging far less affected than other parts of the globe, football will be a pleasant distraction after the most unusual of times.
The A-League will resume before many international leagues and likely amid a more confident and positive environment than those existing in many nations.
Hence, despite pay cuts, sponsorship and commercial concerns, broadcasting stress and a restraint in spending that appears a certainty for all 11 A-League clubs, the players themselves are certain to play.
Where else could they possibly go?
Will marquees like Alessandro Diamanti stick around in Australia? (AAP Image/James Ross)
Hence, the season will reach a climax, players will reconvene to prepare for the next season, and with the majority of countries around the world dealing with a still aggressive COVID-19, the 2020/21 A-League may well go ahead with the majority of squads intact.
Marquee players like Ola Toivonen, Panagiotis Kone, Alessandro Diamanti and Gary Hooper may well have nowhere else to go and the A-League may acquire their services, at a reduced cost, for yet another season.
The situation may also afford the opportunity for domestic stars like Jamie Maclaren and Riley McGree to remain in Australia for another season, with interest from off-shore waning until a financial rebound begins to gain momentum.
There is a great deal of guess work going on in the world right now. However, with Australia beginning to ease restrictions and slowly open up its economy and society, a brisk return to A-League play and a lack of opportunity elsewhere may well keep the elite competition viable in spite of a seemingly weakening financial position.
oldpsyco
Guest
Maybe, just maybe FFA will have to embrace the Club structure, they were so quick to dismiss, and re=engage with those thousands of Volunteers who work only for the good of the game ! A novel idea, but in these times ????
BiffPlankchest
Roar Rookie
Winning their first Toilet Seat in front of an empty stadium during a pandemic year would be the most City thing ever. ... and as a City fan, I would welcome it with open arms :laughing:
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I was when I first was on this site, however I am now elsewhere (outside of Australia).
Chopper
Guest
Referring to then gist of the discussion it is not just a case of where the A League players can go but where do the multitude of good players go that are currently in limbo worldwide? The English Football League have 1200 uncontracted players within their ranks from Championship down. France and Holland have closed their leagues for this season with the Bundislega only just restarted. Sweden have postponed the start of their premier league and this is not isolated to Europe. South America may be in deep trouble with Brazil have a huge spike in Covid-19 and Columbia in a similar position. I can see the possibilities of some very reasonable foreign talent becoming available at affordable levels that would surely make the A League eminently more attractive to watch.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I agree with your point about not needing finals. I guess it depends on what the broadcaster wants.
At work
Roar Rookie
I've heard about this option, obviously would need to apply some kind of blurring of the sound so that individual voices can't be heard, but this would improve the players motivations on the park, while making it more interesting for the home viewer. Now's the time to test these crazy ideas because why not, anything goes at the moment.
At work
Roar Rookie
It'll be quite weird because whatever form guide there was is out the window with such a long break, which hurts Brisbane the most considering they had really hit their straps. It's almost guaranteed that SydFC will win the premiership. Wellington are in a better position to City, since they have 3 games in hand and only 4 points behind. All I know is that if there's nobody there to watch, do we really need finals? They mostly exist to fill FFA coffers, but with no crowds there's no money to be made, so what's the point. The winner of the toilet seat this season should be crowned the 'Advanced Training Champions'.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see him in the A League again. Melbourne United need to resign him soon because he would be an asset anywhere. I'm not a Wanderers supporter but he'd be a good signing for them.
WarrenBungles
Guest
Are you really in Phnom Penh Ben ?
Waz
Roar Rookie
It’s a fair point you make on the number of games, that becomes crucial if they condense the season. However you fail to account for City’s natural desire to choke and Jamie MacLaren’s inability to score in big games.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
From the article: .... But back in love with football thanks to Australia, Diamanti said: "Virus or no virus, I would have kept playing anyway. For sure I will still be playing football as long as I feel physically and psychologically like this, being able to offer great performances and loving to train everyday. "Then to be honest, to come here gave me back that lightness and that passion you always tend to lose in Europe. I will stay here in Australia next season." Diamanti added: "Football is the same everywhere. Then of course there are different cultural ways to let football grow and this may change from country to country. "According to me here football is at a good level. There are interesting players and many talented youngsters who have improvement margins ahead. "There are foreigners who have played abroad at high levels. Here it is physical, a lot, and very competitive. At the same time it is very cheerful, something the rest of the world [of football] should be too." ...... I love watching this guy play. Quality footballer and just seems to love being out there on the pitch kicking the ball around. Well done sir.
Admiral Ackbar
Guest
Good point. Last season Glory had it’s best season since the days of the NSL and Keogh, Davidson, Lowry and Spiranovic all disappear overseas. How are we supposed to win the Asian Champions League if players keep buggering off overseas???
Kevin
Roar Rookie
I think it will be Melbourne City in the Grand Final, mainly because they only need to play three more games to finish the season as opposed to Sydney, Wellington and Perth who need to play six games. Assuming Sydney and Wellington finish top 2 with Melbourne City, Brisbane, Perth and Wunited all making finals, Melbourne City would have only played 6 games in 5 weeks if they make the Grand Final, as opposed to Sydney, Wellington and Brisbane who wouldve played 8 and Perth and Wunited who wouldve played 9. What will help Melbourne City is that the rest of the teams will be fatigued, allowing a fresher City side to defeat the other, tired contenders and there isnt a better year for City to take home some silverware. And if they make top 2, remember, that games played tally becomes only 5.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Just a random thought, however would it be possible to have, say, one thousand people connected to 50 "meetings" on Zoom (hence 20 a meeting) and have their images either as a montage on the big screen or rotating in groups with the audio of all one thousand coming through the stadium sound system to provide live fan noise and atmosphere? I assume there are numerous technical challenges, particularly in relation to audio (such as feedback), however the technology is available. Each club could have 500 of its members register to join in on match-day.
Nemesis
Guest
Ola said he was always going home because he wants his kids to get into the Swedish education system, which is highly regarded & it's a public system so you have to enrol & get in line. It's not a matter of just being rich & pushing your way into the system. His contract was up at the end of this season & I think A-League contracts normally run until 30 June. If he stayed in Australia during the past months of international travel bans then maybe he'll finish his commitments for 2019/20 before going home. But, he's definitely not playing in Australia next season.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Roy and HG. They could make two flys climbing a wall sound exciting. Perfect for the A-league :shocked:
Stevo
Roar Rookie
“Believe”
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
It’s a good point that Australia may be able to hold onto its talent for a little longer. The season ending in August and then starting again in October, won’t necessarily be so bad given a) the rest they will have had b) it’s not too different to the time European leagues get if their players feature in the latter stages of an international tournament. But as you mention the mayhem might be ‘fun’
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
The ‘form sides’
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
players can be got from other countries if they go great it will be starting again soon. go the nix