A-League gives bizarre reasons for shocking grand final scheduling mistake
EXCLUSIVE: Read the A-League’s reasoning for scheduling things that left fans without football for two weeks leading up to the Grand Final
- Soccer fans wondered why the men’s grand final isn’t this weekend
- A-League has since explained why the decision comes on June 3
- Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners go head to head
The puzzling reason why the men’s A-League grand final won’t be played until June 3 at Sydney’s Commbank Stadium has been revealed.
An A-League spokesman explained to Daily Mail Australia why the biggest game of the season between Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners is canceled this Saturday night.
“Before the start of the A-League men’s season, an extra week was built into the schedule to accommodate potential delays due to Covid-19,” the statement said.
“With the pandemic no longer an obstacle for supporters and teams, there is now an opportunity to add a layer of anticipation to one of the biggest days in our football calendar.
“By holding the Grand Final on June 3, we’ve left more time for fans from Melbourne and the Central Coast to travel to Sydney – and potentially secure cheaper travel prices too.
The A-League has issued a puzzling statement about its mind-boggling decision to postpone play of the men’s grand final between Central Coast and Melbourne City until June 3 (pictured, Mariners star Josh Nisbet)
Many football fans wanted to see the decider follow on May 27, a week after the second leg of the grand final (pictured left, Melbourne City star Mat Leckie)
In addition, both the Mariners and Melbourne City have planned fan-based activities over the two-week period as they continue to prepare for the decider.
“Ticket sales are very encouraging and it promises to be a fantastic event for football fans of all ages at Commbank Stadium.”
The Covid pandemic ceased to be a problem for the country’s major sporting codes in early 2022, when lockdowns had been out of effect for months.
Rival footy codes AFL and NRL reverted to their usual scheduling practices and travel arrangements for that season.
And reasoning that the league cut the gap in the schedule to give Melbourne City and Central Coast fans more time to travel and find accommodation makes little sense, as it was impossible to know in advance which teams would make the decision. take – it could have been Sydney FC and the Western Wanderers.
For the first time in the league’s history dating back to 2005, the A-League Grand Final will be played at a neutral venue.
It follows a deal – reportedly worth $10 million – struck last year between the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Destination NSW that will see Sydney play host to the men’s and women’s deciders until 2025.
It was a highly controversial move that led to hundreds of Sydney FC fans from ‘The Cove’ launching a boycott of the finals series.
But despite the fear the move caused among supporters, APL boss Danny Townsend insisted it had to happen.
Australian Professional Leagues CEO Danny Townsend sidelined many football fans after striking a deal with Destination NSW to see the men’s and women’s A-League Grand Finls held in Sydney until 2025
“The decision of the grand final was made because we felt our major matches deserved a date on the national sporting calendar,” he said.
‘To do that, you have to commit to a location and then involve governments in determining where that is.
“Ultimately, we want our game to grow.
“We want a marketable, investable proposition that we as football fans can get behind.”
The Women’s A-League grand final between Sydney FC and Western United was held at Commbank Stadium on 30 April, with the Sky Blues coming out convincing 4-0 winners.