Players and staff from the three Melbourne-based A-League clubs are in limbo after a Monday-night flight is unable to take off, putting the resumption of the competition at risk.
The FFA has been forced to seek an exemption for its three Melbourne clubs from the NSW Government to cross the state border after a last-minute exit plan fell through.The flight was unable to take off due to bad weather in CanberraPlayers and staff from Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Western United gathered at Tullamarine Airport late last night in order to leave the state before border restrictions came into place at midnight.
However, due to poor visibility at Canberra Airport — their destination — the plane was unable to take off, forcing the players back home and putting the resumption of the A-League season at risk. Western United striker Besart Berisha described the situation as "unbelievable" in an Instagram video filmed by Alessandro Diamanti.A-League boss Greg O'Rourke said every effort had been made to relocate the clubs out of Victoria yesterday.
"We will now begin the process to seek exemptions from the NSW Government to allow the teams to enter NSW for them to continue their season," O'Rourke said. "If we find it necessary to revise the match schedule, we will do so accordingly and will announce once confirmed, however at this time the schedule remains the same."The A-League is due to restart on July 16 with Melbourne Victory and Western United meeting at a yet-to-be decided venue.If the league resumes, all matches bar one — Brisbane Roar vs Adelaide United at Robina — are expected to take place in New South Wales.
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