Sydney FC threatens to abandon Leichhardt Oval as pitch forces ALW Unite Round shift
Sydney FC has threatened to pull its remaining A-League Women games from Leichhardt Oval after the marquee Unite Round matches had to be relocated at short notice due to the “unacceptable” pitch.
The six games of a weekend-long festival of football from Friday will be moved to Jubilee Stadium in Sydney’s south-west, while the Leichhardt surface has received scathing feedback from the Sky Blues and soccer’s players’ union.
It is yet another speed bump for the cash-strapped Australian Professional Leagues (APL) as they host the second iteration of Unite Round — an initiative similar to the AFL’s Gather Round in Adelaide and the NRL’s Magic Round in Brisbane.
The inner-city Leichhardt Oval pitch was scrutinised during Saturday’s ALW Sydney derby and an inspection on Monday confirmed the surface was not up to scratch.
“Following the decision to move the A-League Women’s Unite Round matches away from Leichhardt Oval, we are considering our own options for our remaining home women’s games at the venue this season,” Sydney chief executive Mark Aubrey said in a statement.
“As much as we enjoy the atmosphere we create when we play at Leichhardt Oval and we’d like to create a hub at the ground for our women’s team; the playing surface is currently unacceptable for professional football, particularly considering we are three rounds into the new season.
“Unless there is a major improvement we will be forced to make alternative arrangements and if things go well elsewhere, who knows if we will return.”
Sydney’s next scheduled game at the venue is against Newcastle on December 15.
Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) welcomed the APL’s call to move the games.
“Last season, players rated Leichhardt Oval four out of five stars for pitch quality,” PFA chief executive Beau Busch said in a statement.
“However, after last weekend, it received just one out of five — a dramatic decline.
“The venue has since been deemed unacceptable for professional football by both the APL and Sydney FC.
“The players have been clear that they will not accept a fundamental component of football — the playing surface — being hijacked.”
Because of the move, the APL has made all six games free entry, with current ticket holders to be refunded.
A-Leagues commissioner Nick Garcia confirmed planned shuttle services from A-League Men venue Sydney Football Stadium would go to Kogarah, while planned fan zones and gala days would proceed as planned.
“It is imperative that we have the best possible playing surface to ensure quality football, player safety and the most entertaining product for our fans,” he said in a statement.
Poor surface quality has been an issue since early in the ALW season.
Newcastle had its home matches relocated twice in the opening three rounds of the ALW, playing Western Sydney at Cessnock Sportsground in round one because its number-two Sportsground home was not ready.
The Jets then hosted Wellington at Maitland Sportsground in round three after the Wanderers found the Cessnock pitch too hard and gave it the minimum rating of one star for its smoothness and overall quality.
One player told the PFA it was one of the worst pitches they had played on.
The Lang Park pitch was also under fire after a men’s match between Brisbane and Sydney FC in round three was played just six days after a concert.
AAP
