Players’ union blasts Football Australia for lack of transparency in Cup decision

A-League players have slammed Football Australia’s lack of transparency in making the decision to axe Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix from the Australia Cup.

The A-League’s two New Zealand clubs have been dumped from the Cup competition by FA following “a review of participation, qualification pathways and an alignment with international competition”.

The news came as a shock to Professional Footballers Australia, with the organisation’s chief executive Beau Busch saying the players’ union only found out about the move via a media report on Wednesday that included reaction to the decision from officials from the two affected clubs.

“The merits of the decision and the process undertaken raise a range of questions,” Busch said on Thursday.

“Like the players, the first we heard of the decision was yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) media coverage.

“For all the rhetoric on unity and alignment, the players’ experience reflects a different reality and this matter is a clear example.

“In 2023, the PFA released a comprehensive analysis of the Australia Cup that revealed a range of challenges and opportunities.

“We are unaware of the review that FA has undertaken and the players were not a part of it.

“If indeed a review has been undertaken, it should be made publicly available to ensure all within the game can understand the rationale behind the decision.”

PFA’s stance has been backed by the New Zealand Professional Footballers Association.

“We support the PFA’s stance that the players need to be consulted in relation to a restructure of a competition they are involved in,” NZPFA general manager Jacob Spoonley said.

Concerns raised by affected players included the lack competitive games Auckland and Wellington will now have in the build-up to the A-League season.

FA confirmed on Thursday that it had not consulted with PFA about its decision to dump the two clubs from the Cup but had decided on the controversial move in consultation with the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the A-League.

On Wednesday, Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker told NewsWire: “As a club, we are disappointed (to be excluded from the Cup) because it means that we won’t be going after a trophy, but on the flip side, it’s a competition that cost us money (and) is badly organised.”

Phoenix general manager David Dome said the Cup had been “an extremely costly exercise, having to travel to all corners of Australia for each round as we weren’t allowed to host a Cup match”.