Melbourne teams scramble again to reach Canberra to keep season alive
The FFA looks likely to get an exemption from the NSW government that will allow the Victorian A-League clubs across the state border to take their place in the relaunched competition after players from Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Western United again scrambled to fly to Canberra on Tuesday night.
The three Victorian clubs had failed in a last-gasp bid to get to the ACT on Monday evening when weather closed in and fog meant their charter flight could not land in the nation's capital.
They had met at AAMI Park at 10pm and been taken to Tullamarine, even getting kit and equipment on the flight before the pilot told them they had to get off because poor weather conditions meant they could not fly.
Frustrated: Western United's Alessandro Diamanti has kept a diary of the Victorian A-League clubs misadventures of getting to the ACT.Credit:Getty Images
Players and officials tired, frustrated and angry that they had to return home in the early hours of the morning, although all recovered enough to want to go again on Tuesday.
So all three teams met at AAMI Park at 6pm on Tuesday evening, with the plan being to fly to the ACT and stay there until they got clearance to travel to NSW.
''The plan is to get to Canberra and we can quarantine there to get the exemptions from the NSW government and then we could move to the hub in Sydney,'' said a club source.
''Alternatively we could get an exemption in the ACT and stay and train there and the first two games which involve the Melbourne teams could be played in Canberra before they transfer up to Sydney after staying for a fortnight in Canberra.''
Victory is due to kick start the relaunched A-League with a fixture against Western United on July 16, while City is set to take on United on July 20. Those matches could be staged at GIO Stadium.
The next game involving one of the trio is on July 22, when Victory is due to take on Western Sydney. That would be exactly 14 days after their arrival in the ACT – two weeks being the standard quarantine period.
Western United's Italian star Alessandro Diamanti kept a video diary of the unfolding drama at the airport on Monday night. "[First] we were told to catch the bus and drive for 10 hours to cross the border," he said in the diary, translated from Italian.
“Then we were told to go to the airport and go to Canberra then a bus to Sydney. We were all on the plane ready to go and we can’t leave.
“We went back home and will see what to do, how to finish this season, because we have to go to Sydney. Fifteen minutes ago they closed the border so we can’t go.
“If you want some different experiences you need to come to Australia to do these things.
“But I’m sure it’s not going to finish here. We are are now going to go home and in 15 minutes they will tell us how to get there. Maybe on a bicycle.”
NSW deputy premier John Barilaro on Tuesday gave every indication that the clubs would get the exemptions they are seeking.
"I think we have got to work with the FFA and I will be reaching out to the FFA and seeing what support they need," Barilaro told SBS.
"If we have got an opportunity to do so let's bring them [the Victorian clubs] across the border, let's park them in the regions or in the city and make sure they are part of the A-League that kicks off shortly."
FFA head of leagues Greg O’Rourke said that the game's governing body was lobbying the NSW government for an exemption, adding: “If we find it necessary to revise the match schedule we will do so accordingly.''