Herbert calls for Phoenix equality
February 08, 2012 16:47:17 UK
Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has said that his team should be given the same privileges and rights that are given to the other A-League clubs.
Top 2 teams in the A League go to Asian Club Champs 'cept the Nix. Nor can we play in Oceania CC – it sucks!
Phoenix co-owner Gareth Morgan
The current rule in the A-League is that the regular season winners and the Grand Final champions are both given a direct entry in next year's Asian Champions League, while the regular season runners-up are given the qualifying route for the ACL.
Wellington Phoenix are 2.80 to defeat Brisbane Roar, who themselves are 2.40 to get the win. A draw between the two sides can be backed at 3.40.
But as the Phoenix are based in New Zealand, a country that falls under the Oceania Football Confederation unlike Australia, who famously switched its continental allegiance to Asia a few years ago.
Since the Phoenix play their league football in an Australian league, therefore, they are not allowed to play in the Oceania Club Championship either, which has put them in a state of limbo.
This situation is of great annoyance to the Phoenix co-owner Gareth Morgan, who has now moved to voice his displeasure over the subject.
"Top 2 teams in the A League go to Asian Club Champs 'cept the Nix. Nor can we play in Oceania CC – it sucks!" Morgan wrote on his official Twitter account.
Herbert agreed with Morgan's views and said: "Well all the players are registered in Australia so it kind of makes sense a fair and equal opportunity for all clubs would be there. I guess that's on the table now and maybe there are one or two people who need to discuss it in a little bit more depth.
"I guess you can't have your cake and eat it. But at the end of the day it's a competition that we're all playing in and if the rewards at the end of it are an Asian Championship (place) and we're good enough to be there I kind of think we should be accepted."
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