Players’ union slams ‘unacceptable’ A-League travel fiasco amid COVID-19 border closure

SYDNEY: Australia’s footballers’ union lashed out on Wednesday (Jul 8) at “unacceptable” chaos right after a few Melbourne-primarily based A-League groups were prevented from leaving Victoria for a next time with borders shutting as coronavirus conditions surge.

The prime flight A-League is owing to resume following week but Melbourne Metropolis, Melbourne Victory and Western United remain stranded in the city though Soccer Federation Australia search for government exemptions so they can cross into New South Wales.

The 1st aborted endeavor by the groups to depart was on Monday, when fog scuppered their prepared flight to Canberra.

A working day later when they were on buses to the airport only to understand they would have to invest a fortnight in quarantine on arrival.

Study: Long queues at Australian border shut by COVID-19

The border among Australia’s two most populous states – Victoria and New South Wales – was shut from midnight on Tuesday.

“What the players and their people have experienced to endure around the earlier forty eight hours is unacceptable,” Experienced Footballers Australia mentioned.

“The absence of clarity, the ad-hoc arranging and shifting commitments have remaining the players humiliated, discouraged and solely missing self esteem in the method.”

It added “a trustworthy and feasible plan” was needed “that does not shift the game’s incapability to proficiently deal with these worries entirely on to players and their families”.

A-League chief Greg O’Rourke insisted they experienced carried out “absolutely every thing we could to get the players and personnel out of Victoria”.

“We are in discussions the NSW government, and we will carry on to search for the exemptions essential for the groups to journey,” he added.

The NSW government has indicated it would be sympathetic to the request with Deputy Premier John Barilaro saying if the opportunity was there “let’s convey them across the border”.

The chaos throws into question the A-League strategy to restart on Jul 16 in New South Wales with Melbourne Victory taking part in Western United in a blockbuster Melbourne derby.

The league was suspended simply because of the pandemic Mar 24.