Game in limbo, World Cup fees unpaid as Socceroos crises emerge
A squad announcement for the upcoming international window has been delayed for the Socceroos as players continue to raise concerns about travelling to the Middle East due to conflict in the area.
Australia is scheduled to face Qatar and Jordan at their respective home grounds next week, with pressure mounting on the organisers to find an alternative venue for their match against Jordan due to concerns about player safety.
Vinicius jnr, Tete Yengi and Nestory Irankunda talk after the match. Getty Images
Tony Popovic, who comes off contract in January, was set to unveil his team for the looming friendlies on Friday but the announcement has been moved to the weekend, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) have led calls for the venue or date to be changed, with Indonesia pulling out of its friendly with Jordan for safety reasons.
The Herald reports it is unclear if Australia will even proceed with the games due to the heightened conflict in Jordan, with nine people killed by a gunman during a funeral service just two weeks ago in the country’s south.
Jordan’s Football Association, however, says the match “is still scheduled to take place, without any changes”.
Players are free to withdraw themselves from this window without any consequence for the two matches, according to Football Australia’s executive director of football Heather Garriock, speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald.
It is unclear if players can elect to play in the Qatar match and not the Jordan match, however.
To add to the pressure already on Football Australia, it was reported by the ABC that Socceroos players are still waiting for their match fees from the World Cup.
The payments were due to be finalised a fortnight after the players departed from the team camp, having been eliminated from the tournament on July 3.
For those players who featured in all games for the Socceroos at the World Cup, they are owed around $24,000. Everyone else is paid roughly $6000 in match fees per game they were on the team list, even if they were an unused substitute.
However, the ABC reported that players are also waiting on money from the two friendlies against Mexico and Switzerland prior to the World Cup fixtures.
Football Australia has been contacted by nine.com.au for comment.
The reported late payments come just days after it was revealed the Socceroos and Matildas were taking legal action against Football Australia due to a dispute relating to its revenue share agreement.
“It’s predictable, but it’s very sad for me,” former Socceroos captain Craig Foster said when asked about the legal action taken by players by nine.com.au.
“In a period of mismanagement of the game, for people to now turn around and blame the players is patently ridiculous.”
SOCCEROOS UPCOMING FRIENDLY GAMES
Qatar v Socceroos at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday, November 14, 1.45am AEDT
Jordan v Socceroos at Amman International Stadium on Wednesday, November 18 at 3am AEDT
