Western United was stripped of his license in A-League in a football decision that Australie was described as “regrettable”.
The Victorian club besieged has been faced with financial problems since he demanded the male title of the A-League 2021/2022, players and staff recently faced delayed payments, while FIFA ban prevented the club from recording new players due to a dispute with former player Aleksand Prijović.
The club has eight days to appeal the decision.
“Football Australia is able to confirm that the First Instance Board (FIB) – an independent organization created under the National Club Licensing Regulations – has summoned and determined that Western United FC did not meet the criteria which were to be granted a license of A -League,” said an Australian football statement.
“As such, the license of Western United FC has been removed, with immediate effect.
“Western United FC may appeal this decision to the appeal organization established under the regulations for certain reasons described in the regulations.
“This result, although regrettable, reflects the continuous commitment of Australia football to maintain the integrity, stability and equity of competitions for all clubs, players and stakeholders.”
Western United won the A-League male championship during the 2021/22 season. (Getty Images: Vince Caligiuri))
The male players of Western United are in pre-season, while its female program is on stage out of season.
They receive the support of the players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA).
“The PFA was advised both by football Australia and APL (Australian professional leagues) of the FIB decision to withdraw the Western United A-League license,” said a spokesperson for the PFA in a statement.
“We have communicated directly with all the players affected by this decision and will continue to do so as this affair progresses.”
Western United hoped that his problems would be resolved by Kam Melbourne – a subsidiary of the American group Kam Sports – acquiring majority participation in the club.
The agreement was announced in early May but has not yet been finalized.
Western United said on Friday said in a statement that the club was “bitterly disappointed” from the decision.
“The club will exercise its right to appeal the decision with the faith of a positive result while the sale of the club and the capital injection of Kam Melbourne continue to progress,” the statement said.
“As this is a regulatory process, the club will not comment at the moment.”
Western United participated in the A-League men’s competition during the 2019/20 season, reaching the finals during their first campaign.
They raised the championship trophy three years ago and made the final of the last season.
The great Socceroos John Aloisi, who guided the club to his championship triumph in 2022, had signed a two-year contract extension as a chief coach last month.
The club challenged for the first time the competition of women in the A-League in 2022/23, going to the final during their first season.
They were also finalists in 2024/25.
After encouraging the posts on the ground this year, Western United was involved in the controversy When one of his players was among the people charged by the Victoria police in June following an investigation into the alleged deception on the bets involving the game.
ABC / AAP
