Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory travel to Qatar following...

Earlier this week they wrote to the Australian Football Association, which helped address some of their concerns about the AFC’s hub protocol plans, the impact on insurance and whether foreign players are allowed to return to the country, but the final decision is over the decision was left to the clubs.

Beau Busch, Co-CEO of PFA, said it was disappointing that the AFC, through FIFPro, had not consulted player unions across Asia before setting the times, dates and location for the ACL, and hoped the collaboration would work out Sydney FC have qualified and Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar have earned play-off spots ahead of next year’s tournament.

“We have seen really effective engagement between FIFPro, the European Clubs Association and UEFA. There wasn’t the same level of commitment [in Asia] and that’s something we’d really like to see to ensure that the players’ voices are heard and their concerns are also answered directly by the AFC, “said Busch.

“What is asked of players and coaches is important. It’s a really challenging situation. The Asian Champions League is a really important tournament, only this time there are significant challenges. ”

FIFPro released a statement on Thursday morning saying it was “disappointed and concerned” that the AFC had not spoken to its affiliated players’ associations in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea or Thailand.

“Additionally, during the competition in the western AFC region in September, we received no information about the COVID-19 outbreak in what is known as the” medical bubble “of the tournament, the statement said.

“As a globally recognized representative of professional footballers, we respectfully demand openness and direct advice when planning decisions for Asian football competitions, as is the case on other continents.

“With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this is more necessary than ever. The actors whose health, financial situation and career are at stake deserve to be part of these decisions. ”

A-League teams are still at risk of missing out on Christmas with their families. Any team past the 16th round will be quarantined in Australia until after December 25th. Anyone contracting COVID-19 in Qatar reporting around 200 new cases per day would also have to stay in the country until they test negative.

With the start of the new A-League season on December 27, clubs whose return is delayed or who cannot conduct field training during the quarantine – this may be the case with Perth Glory who want to fly directly to WA home on the way – will begin accommodated by flexible attachment for the first rounds of the domestic campaign.

The cost of hotel quarantine and the obligation to cover security and police costs for their 14-day stay has been one of the biggest problems for A-League clubs, already in dire financial straits after a reduction in the competition broadcasting contract and for the most part a year are without ticket receipts.

According to sources, some players may still make individual decisions not to travel due to the blessings of their clubs due to the personal and family environment.

“From a coach’s point of view, they will always want what is in the best interests of their players,” said FCA President Phil Moss.

“There are still some complexities with everyone on the plane, but certainly the cooperation between the players, the clubs and the coaches has been exceptional … we are much more comfortable [now]. „

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In the meantime, FFA chairman Chris Nikou is being asked to hold on to his position for at least another year. The incumbent board will not question its position at this month’s general meeting.

After Nikou replaced Steven Lowy as FFA chairman in 2018, he is expected to remain in charge of sources close to the FFA board, suggesting that his candidacy is unlikely to be opposed.

With the expected departure of board member Remo Nogarotto, who will step down for personal reasons, there will be a slight change in the composition of the board. Nogarotto, a former chairman of the old Soccer Australia and now defunct National Soccer League, returned to the game in 2018 as part of the new board.

The only candidate proposed so far to replace Nogarotto is Stefan Kamasz, who was formerly managing director of Football NSW and Sydney FC.

With Dominic Bossi