Adelaide United’s Paul Izzo ,pictured playing for Central Coast last season, won’t be going to Olyroos camp unless a deal is struck. Picture: Tracey Nearmy (AAP)
SOCCER players union chief executive John Didulica believes Adelaide United’s boycott of the Olyroos may be due to frustration because the A-League does not stop for FIFA international window dates.
On Wednesday, Adelaide chairman Greg Griffin told The Advertiser his club would not allow four of his five contracted players a leave pass for Josep Gombau’s Olyroos camp, which starts on Friday.
This month’s qualifiers for the AFC U-23 championship China 2018 falls outside the FIFA international window.
But the Professional Footballers Australia union boss believes conflict may have been avoided if Football Federation Australia had factored FIFA’s international window into the A-League season.
The FIFA window takes precedence over all domestic competitions
But Adelaide’s decision to prevent George Blackwood, Paul Izzo, Ben Warland and Jordan O’Doherty from joining the Olyroos camp on Friday has disappointed Didulica. Only Riley McGree (who is destined to be announced as a Club Brugge signing) has been allowed to go.
“We will always defend a player’s right to represent his country and it is still deeply disappointing that players are put in these situations,’’ Didulica said.
“The fact the A-League does not stop for international breaks during the season compounds club frustration year on year. So you can understand why there is a reaction from clubs at different times.
“Thirty-nine matches were missed last season across three rounds and, while we recognise it is a complex situation, it needs a solution.”
The international match calendar currently has three more dates this year — late August/early September, early October and early November.
But it has none in January for the 2018 championship in China, which means if the Olyroos qualify for the tournament, Adelaide could find itself losing players for possibly five A-League matches.
FFA on Thursday revealed they are in talks with Adelaide over the release of Reds players for Olyroos duty.
Originally published as Club-versus-country debate lingers
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