Western United is on the brink of folding after the A-Leagues club was stripped of its licence to compete in Australia’s professional men’s and women’s competitions.
Champions of the A-League Men in 2022, the Melbourne-based club has been suffering financial turmoil in recent months, with players and staff paid late in April, May and June and with a FIFA ban due to a dispute with former star Aleksandar Prijovic blocking them from registering new players.
Jason Sourasis, the club’s chairman, had been hoping a planned takeover by American investors KAM Sports would end the uncertainty over Western United’s future, but the process has dragged on – and now Football Australia’s first instance board, an independent body tasked with club licensing, has forced the matter to a head by effectively booting them out of the A-Leagues.
Former A-League champions Western United has been stripped of its licence.Credit: Getty Australia
The first instance board met on Thursday night and “determined that Western United FC has failed to meet the criteria required to be granted an A-League license,” a spokesperson for Football Australia said.
“As such, Western United FC’s license has been withdrawn, effective immediately.
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“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.”
Western United has seven days to appeal the decision.
“We’ve been advised by Football Australia on the determination by [the first instance board] to withdraw Western United’s conditional licence,” Australian Professional Leagues executive chairman Stephen Conroy said in a statement.
“This is an FA, AFC and regulatory process, and we won’t comment further until the regulatory process and any appeal has been completed.”
More to come …