A-League club Western United's licence withdrawn under Football Australia regulations
An independent board set up to assess each club against the licensing criteria decided on Thursday Western United has not met its requirements. It means the club is blocked from competing in FA-sanctioned competitions, including the A-Leagues.
Football Australia issued a statement on Friday afternoon: 'Football Australia is able to confirm that the first instance board [FIB] – an independent body established under the National Club Licensing Regulations – has convened and determined that Western United FC has failed to meet the criteria required to be granted an A-League license. As such Western United FC's licence has been withdrawn, effective immediately.
'Western United FC can appeal this decision to the appeals body established under the regulations on certain grounds outlined in the regulations.'
The club has told the Guardian it plans to appeal against the decision and will provide a response on Friday.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) executive chair, Stephen Conroy, said his organisation awaits the outcome of the appeal process.
'We've been advised by Football Australia on the determination by FIB to withdraw Western United's conditional licence,' he said.
'This is an FA, AFC and regulatory process, and we won't comment further until the regulatory process and any appeal has been completed.'
The licensing regulations are designed to 'safeguard the credibility and integrity' of Australian football competitions and cover criteria such as financial standards.
Western United have been late in paying players this year and are currently subject to a Fifa-imposed transfer and registration ban.
FA said the licensing process is designed to protect the game.
Sign up to Football Daily
Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football
after newsletter promotion
'This outcome, while regrettable, reflects Football Australia's ongoing commitment to upholding the integrity, stability, and fairness of competitions for all clubs, players, and stakeholders,' they said.
The threat to the Tarneit's outfit existence comes as owners seek to finalise a takeover by the US-based Kaminski group, which was announced in May.
The A-League Men is due to commence in late October.
More to follow.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
A-League club confirm signing of defender after he 'faced challenges and setbacks' off the field
Former Socceroos defender Ruon Tongyik has been thrown an A-League lifeline by the Western Sydney Wanderers just months after he was acquitted of rape. Tongyik, 27, has signed a one-year deal ahead of the 2025/26 season kicking-off in October. 'I'd like to sincerely thank head coach Alen Stajcic and the Western Sydney Wanderers for this opportunity,' Tongyik said in a club statement. 'It means more than I can say to me and my family. Being able to do what I love again, playing football, is something I truly appreciate. 'After facing challenges and setbacks (in my life), this opportunity to return to the game means a lot (to me). 'It's not just about playing matches but being part of a team, working hard every day and pushing myself to be better. 'I'm excited to contribute on and off the field and help the Wanderers achieve their goals.' Football journeyman Tongyik, who enjoyed previous spells with A-League clubs Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar and Central Coast, had been on Western Sydney's books before the Wanderers and Football Australia slapped a no-fault interim suspension on him in October 2023. The ban prevented him from all football and club-related activities. Stajcic said he was looking forward to again working closely with Tongyik. 'It's been a long road for Ruon and we are all hoping the Wanderers can re-establish him as one of the most prominent players in the A-League,' the Wanderers coach said. In March, 12 jurors took less than two hours to return not-guilty verdicts for Tongyik following a two-week trial. Tongyik's friend Mardochee Manirakiza was also acquitted of two counts of aggravated sexual assault following the alleged incident in November of 2018 at his home in Adelaide. At the time, the woman reported the alleged rape to a friend, but only approached police in 2021 when her airing of the claim on Twitter led to Tongyik's dumping from Australia's men's Olympic football team. Tongyik played two Socceroos matches before the rape allegation surfaced, with his international career then put on hold.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Footy coach SACKED after posing vile comment about Tammy Hembrow's date with AFL star Bailey Smith
A Western Australian footy coach has been sacked after making a vile comment about fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow on social media. Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club formally sacked League coach John Baggetta on Friday following his slur against Hembrow that went viral, calling her a 'c** bucket'. AFL star Bailey Smith and Hembrow were recently spotted together on the Gold Coast, sharing lunch at a popular waterfront restaurant and showing public displays of affection. The outing fuelled speculation about a new romance, coming only two months after Hembrow's split from her ex-husband. Later, she appeared on social media wearing what seemed to be Smith's jacket. Smith has declined to clarify the relationship. Photographers and reporters turned out to Geelong training with Smith the centre of attention, but the Cats star only responded with a tirade of expletives in their direction. Their alleged union on the Gold Coast sparked enormous chatter on social media platforms, including plenty of horrendous comments directed at Hembrow. One of the worst of those slurs was posted in the comments section of a news article by Baggetta. 'He's just trying to keep his relevance,' Baggetta posted about Smith. 'And she is just a c** bucket,' he then posted about Hembrow. His comment sparked a barrage of calls for him to be sacked, with the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club officially wielding the axe on Friday. 'The board of the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club wish to inform all players, members, officials and supporters that John Baggetta has been terminated as League coach,' the statement read. 'Regarding the social media post made by John, we do not condone those comments, and they do not reflect the values or standards of the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club at any level. 'We have a large Junior base of players, parents, supporters and officials and others that also believe that such comments are not appropriate, and not to be tolerated in society.' Bailey Smith returned to training where he was not happy to see a media scrum waiting for him Australian journalist, femicide researcher and feminist activist Sherele Moody had initially called out Baggetta for his comment and demanded the club sack him. 'I shared a post recently with a range of disgusting misogynist slurs by Australian men directed at Tammy Hembrow after she went on a date,' Moody posted. 'The comments by these men were utterly disgusting and unjustifiable. 'Old mate John Baggetta's comment was the worst - he called Tammy a C** Bucket. 'John's a coach with the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club in Brunswick, Western Australia. 'A man responsible for mentoring and shaping the points of view of young men is just casually throwing around sexist slurs like confetti (turns out he drops a few bangers on X as well).' The club said it consulted with its women's side and members before making the decision to sack Baggetta. 'We are incredibly proud to have a women's team, female representation on our board and women actively involved as members of our club,' the statement continued. 'We have consulted with members of our women's side and we are committed to offering them and all the females in our club any support necessarry.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why an uncertain future could set up a thrilling Rugby Championship
There was a degree of consternation from those in Australia for the British and Irish Lions series when Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt made mention of the upcoming challenges that the Rugby Championship would pose. Schmidt, it seemed, was suggesting that part of the reason that Will Skelton and Rob Valetini were absent from his squad for the first Test was partly to do with the need to hold something back for the encounters to come against South Africa – which rather jarred in the days before a once-in-a-generation rugby moment. Yet Schmidt's comments reflected both the fast-moving world of modern international rugby union, with this tournament beginning two weeks after the Lions series came to an end, and the importance placed on the southern hemisphere's marquee event. Its popularity and global recognition as the best meeting the best may have dipped slightly since the heady days of the Tri Nations era but the Rugby Championship still has a real capacity to captivate, with the distinct identities of the four competing sides and the evolution of Argentina into a genuine threat layering extra annual intrigue. Or, at least, it has done. This year marks the end of an era for the competition, its last before it moves to a biennial format as the international calendar is reshaped. Not only will the launch of World Rugby 's Nations Cup squeeze the schedule, but next year will also see the first contests of a new touring agreement between the Springboks and All Blacks likely to be badged as 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry'. The desire for the two leading nations in the world to meet more often is obvious; quite what it will mean for Australia and Argentina, their competition brethren more in need of financial and sporting succour, is still slightly unclear. Indeed, there are some who feel the Rugby Championship's days as a coherent entity at all may be numbered, replaced by more traditional touring between the four unions. It is not an idea without merit – the sprawling nature of the tournament in its current guise can see international travel and the sequencing of games have an outsized impact on results. But it is still a shame to see a successful, confected competition of the professional era perhaps fade into obsolescence. There is plenty of reason to enjoy it while it lasts, mind. There is sound logic behind a belief that this could be an edition with greater intrigue than usual, with each of the four unions in a slightly strange state to provide the necessary uncertainty. Unusually given the All Blacks' dominance over the last decade and a half, it is South Africa who begin as defending champions – and the fact that the Springboks are unbeaten since securing the competition crown in Mbombela last September further underscores their place as strong contenders. Yet one feels like tougher times could be ahead for Rassie Erasmus and his squad. The central schemer at the heart of the transformation of the side into double World Champions again appears to be embarking on a retooling phase, mixing and matching like a mad scientist as he both rotates to explore depth within his squad and challenges the intricacies of rugby's lawbook. Neither factor has yet imperilled South Africa's supremacy, and their attacking expansion of the last 18 months has been fascinating – but there are some within the sport who wonder if their squad can maintain their high levels given the gruelling year-round schedule top Springboks now have to manage. Their opening encounter with the Wallabies could be instructive. Where South Africa largely swept aside – with respect to an under-strength Italy – weaker opposition in July, Australia arrive battle hardened by their three forays into the Lions' den. The pessimistic mood music of Brisbane may not have been totally replaced by triumphant trumpeting after the series defeat was confirmed with a game to spare, but third Test success in Sydney salvaged plenty of pride and perhaps suggested brighter times to come. Plenty appears to have clarified for Joe Schmidt, not least the importance of Valetini and Skelton to his side – the former's absence is significant ahead of a clash at Ellis Park but the presence of the latter gives the visitors some forward firepower to take on South Africa's big five. Would an upset win open the door for others to knock the Springboks off a throne on which they are growing comfortable? It is worth recalling that Argentina went into the final weekend last year with a shot at the title, evidence of how they have grown into a force despite plenty of inhibiting factors. A tendency to blow hot and cold was shown again this summer, though – another landmark success against the Lions rightly had Felipe Contepomi beaming with pride, but the Pumas were tamed a little too easily by an England side shorn of many of their best thereafter. Two more matches on home soil should please a squad striving for consistency; the fact that it is the All Blacks to greet them may too. Argentina have reserved plenty of their best performances for New Zealand in recent years, World Cup semi-final aside, and will hope to pounce on a side still vulnerable in a feeling-out phase under Scott Robertson. The new identity the former Crusaders coach was tasked to forge is yet to fully form for the moulding men in black – an idea that Robertson was waiting for the return of Richie Mo'unga to settle the situation at fly half has been slightly scuppered by news that the playmaker will not be back in New Zealand until next July. Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie, for now, re-take the reins, displaying the strength still present in the ranks. Only once, during Australia's golden heyday at the turn of the century, have New Zealand ever failed to win the Rugby Championship or Tri-Nations in back-to-back years, and the All Blacks host the Springboks in both meetings this year. That, just about, probably makes them favourites – a new era soon dawns but some things never change.
