Bentleigh Greens felt disadvantaged when they were playing in the semi-finals eight weeks out from their local season. Photo: AAP Image/Joe Castro.
With around 650 clubs around Australia having already begun their FFA Cup preliminary rounds, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced it will make the competition fairer for the semi-professional and grassroots clubs.
Match scheduling has been condensed from last year, with a round of 32 matches played across three weeks instead of four and the quarter-finals played before the start of the 2015/16 A-League season.
Victorian NPL club Bentleigh Greens, who made it to the semi-finals of the competition, felt like they were unfairly disadvantaged as they were still playing eight weeks out of their season against A-League clubs that were just starting up their season.
“The grassroots clubs will be more match-fit because it’s closer to their season as it allows for a bit more space around the A-League pre-season,” FFA CEO David Gallop said at the Cup launch last week.
The final of the Cup will also be moved to November 7, a Saturday night, and no A-League matches will be scheduled on that weekend, giving the FFA Cup more prominence.
Adelaide United became the first team to win the Cup last year, beating Perth Glory 1-0, but did so on a Tuesday evening, sandwiched in between a full A-League round.
Source: ABC, news.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 