Perth Glory chief executive Tony Pignata is confident Western Australia’s border restrictions will be eased in time for the start of the new A-League season.
The draw for the 2020-21 A-League season was announced on Tuesday, with matches scheduled across five states including WA.
While Queensland’s announcement that it will open its borders to all of NSW from December 1 has removed a potential headache for the league, the situation in WA remains uncertain.
Under current restrictions, arrivals from NSW, Victoria and South Australia must undergo quarantine when travelling to WA.
That would create issues for the Glory’s season opener on January 16 against Adelaide United at HBF Park, but Pignata is backing restrictions to be lifted before it becomes a problem.
“Everything sort of points that they will be open, unless there’s another major outbreak and then things change for everyone,” Pignata told AAP.
“The plan is that … given our discussions with various states, that borders will be open by then.”
If the border restrictions aren’t eased, Pignata said the Glory were open to moving into a COVID hub on the eastern seaboard as they did to complete the 2019-20 season.
He said the team would need to work out a plan by late December if there’d been no change to restrictions.
One team which will certainly begin their season affected by border issues is Wellington Phoenix.
The New Zealand team will play their home games at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium this season, although A-League officials are open to the team relocating back to Wellington should the trans-Tasman borders be reopened at some stage next year.
“This has been one of the most challenging fixture processes we’ve ever been involved in because of the continually evolving restrictions, but our priority has always been bringing the best football to fans in the safest way, working with all our stakeholders to do so,” FFA head of leagues Greg O’Rourke said.
The 2020-21 campaign kicks off with expansion club Macarthur FC playing a derby against Western Sydney Wanderers at Bankwest Stadium on December 27.
That game begins a period of 18 games in the competition’s first eight days including a grand final replay between Sydney FC and Melbourne City at ANZ Stadium on December 30.
The season opener will also be a double-header alongside the W-League’s first match of the season between the Wanderers and City, the first time both competitions have kicked off on the same day.
The league’s later start and subsequent run into the winter months has also created a challenge with access to venues primarily used by the NRL and AFL yet to be negotiated.
The situation particularly affects Western United with eight of their home matches yet to have a confirmed venue.
Brisbane have also shifted away from Suncorp Stadium – their home ground since the inaugural A-League season – with their home matches to be played north of Brisbane at Redcliffe’s Dolphin Stadium.
All venues will have crowds, though those figures will be limited by various state restrictions.
For the Glory it means their first match against Adelaide will be the team’s first game in front of their home fans since 8,107 watched a 3-2 loss to City on March 8.
“Can’t wait to be honest,” Pignata said.
“It’s been a long, long time so I’m really looking forward to playing a home game at HBF Park with our own fans and members.”
At work
Roar Rookie
While junior / grassroots / SAP fees are too high, it has little to do with the FFA (now FA), a breakdown will show you that the state federation takes much more then the national body. The state federations should be closed down and brought into the FA. But the FA needs cash to be able to subsidise grassroots fees, unless they go down the route of mandating registration fees.
Tigertown
Guest
You’re right - the SMH oddly has less football content these days. Quite sad.
The Recalcitrant
Guest
In news just in, the megaminds running Australian soccer have renamed the organisation. Yes, yet again. So, as a recap. It was called the Australian Soccer Federation, which in turn changed to Australian Soccer Association then became Soccer Australia, which in turn morphed into Football Federation Australia, then most recently to Football Australia or is it the English, The FA? This is all to mask the fact that fees for all participants will rise to pay for the losses incurred due to executive pay bonuses and also changing the branding(again).
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
true Andy, but I'm just happy the game is back. Can't wait to get back to Hindmarsh.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
fixtures list hasn't been kind to us in the opening several rounds :(
David
Guest
Looking forward to an important season for the A League. Hope it gets decent media support. Sadly, the coverage of football in the Sydney Morning Herald has really dropped since Nine took over, more dramatically since Nine’s decision to broadcast Rugby Union was announced. Fewer and smaller stories, more negativity. Am letting SMH know of my feelings on this topic and likely to cancel subscription. Just putting this out in case I am not alone. Hang in there Beautiful Game.
NoMates
Guest
So happy Nixs got a easy game first up with woeful Roar.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Things are looking good for a 27 Dec start. Some uncertainty still with WA and NZ, but you'd have to think they must be very close to opening up to the rest of Australia. We just have to hope there are no more outbreaks prior to the vaccine coming out. At the moment, the worst case scenario becomes having to have a small break if there's an outbreak anywhere, or reshuffling teams to safer spots, otherwise, you'd have to be confident of completing the season as scheduled.
Franko
Guest
They've taken the right approach to assume all borders bar NZ will be open in December, this is sensible planning. What isn't sensible however is the cadence of opponents.... Adelaide United play Western United on 28/12 then 29/1 yet don't play Newcastle until 20/3. Can we not play everyone once, then everyone twice...... Then everyone thrice?