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The Melbourne Victory boss LEAVES his role in the Australian Pro Leagues after a controversial call to move the next three A-League Grand Finals to Sydney as Wellington Phoenix and Western United BLAST $10M
- Melbourne Victory boss Anthony Di Pietro resigns from APL board
- Australian Professional Leagues have moved the Grand Final to Sydney
- The $10 million deal, spanning three years, has angered fans and players.
- Di Pietro resigned as APL director, saying it was due to the decision
Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro has tendered his resignation as director of the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in response to the controversial decision to move the next three grand finals to Sydney.
The A-League have been accused of ‘selling their soul’ after making a decision to sell grand final hosting rights to NSW in a deal worth around $10m.
Previously, the men’s and women’s A-League clubs that excelled in their respective final series won the right to host the deciding matches.
Anthony Di Pietro resigned from APL board role following Grand Final decision
However, APL boss Danny Townsend has ruled out that meritocratic process for the main event to take place in New South Wales, but the decision has not gone down well with fans, clubs and players.
On Monday, Socceroos hero Craig Goodwin called the move a “sham”, and now a number of A-League clubs have spoken out against the decision, with Di Pietro stepping down from the A-League board. APP.
“It became clear that in order to act in the best interests of Melbourne Victory and football in Victoria, I needed to step down as a member of the APL board,” Di Pietro said in a statement. club statement.
The A-League agreed a $10 million deal to move the event to Sydney for the next three years.
The clubs criticized the decision made by chief executive Danny Townsend on Monday.
“My resignation was ultimately prompted by the decision announced yesterday, which sees the next three Grand Finals take place in Sydney.
“While I know firsthand that the APL decision was made with an eye to growing the game and creating financial sustainability for the League, the sentiment from fans and members has been overwhelming and I cannot support upholding a decision that is not better for the interests”. from the loyal Melbourne Victory and football faithful.
As such, together with Caroline, we have urged the APL to halt this plan and consider an alternative that supports the growth and stability of the League while allowing the men’s and women’s A-League Grand Finals to continue to be played. in the city. of the highest ranked rater.’
Broadcaster Lucy Zelic criticized the A-League, stating that they have “sold their soul” by taking $10 million from the NSW government for Sydney to host the men’s and women’s grand finals of the competition until 2025.
western united and Wellington Phoenix also publicly opposed the move. United argued that their fans “have the right to attend a Grand Final in their home state if we manage to earn the right to do so.”
Phoenix added that they were not consulted in the decision and echoed United’s sentiments. “Our preference is for the men’s and women’s A-League Grand Finals to be played in the city of the highest-ranked qualifier, as has been the case thus far.”
Meanwhile, SBS anchor Lucy Zelic criticized the decision on Tuesday.
‘They [the A-League] they sold their soul,’ Zelic said on SEN’s The Run Home. ‘There is nothing good in this decision.
“The A-Leagues can dress this pig up as much as they want and they can call this jerk whatever they want, he’s still a jerk.”