![\"Auckland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/c09f8e07b3d5eb8697598791d39aaa58.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nAuckland FC striker Sam Cosgrove has blown up over questions about using a “loophole” to serve out a suspension before the A-League Men season.<\/p>\n
Cosgrove was handed a two-game ban after being sent off in the closing stages of Auckland’s 1-0 FIFA Intercontinental Cup loss to Saudi side Al-Ahli in August.<\/p>\n
Auckland are allowed to play A-League professionals in their reserves side under New Zealand Football’s participation agreement and competition regulations.<\/p>\n
That includes up to two 23-year-old non-citizens for each match-day squad.<\/p>\n
The clause opened the door for the 29-year-old Englishman to serve out his ban in Auckland’s recent New Zealand National League fixtures against Wellington Olympic and Miramar Rangers.<\/p>\n
In a fiery exchange on Thursday, Cosgrove could not recall the two matches and was bemused when asked if he had any unease or embarrassment over using the “loophole”.<\/p>\n
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“Embarrassment?” he shot back at a reporter.<\/p>\n
“Why would the club not push to have a player available and use every power that they have?”<\/p>\n
Cosgrove bagged 11 goals in his debut season with Auckland, securing the men’s competition golden boot along the way to the club’s first championship.<\/p>\n
“It doesn’t matter, does it? I have technically [served my ban]. I’ve missed two NPL matches,” Cosgrove said.<\/p>\n
“If you pick up a suspension in the A-League, you have to serve it in the A-League.<\/p>\n
“So technically, in that case, I should be missing the next few Intercontinental Cups, but I’m not.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Auckland FC are the reigning A-League Men champions. (Getty Images: New Zealand Herald\/Alyse Wright)<\/p>\n
The media conference ended abruptly before the reporter repeated his claim that Cosgrove had not actually served the ban.<\/p>\n
“What are you doing here then? Bugger off, if you’re going to talk shit,” the striker replied.<\/p>\n
An Auckland FC minder stated that FIFA, Football Australia and Football New Zealand were “fine” with the way the ban was served.<\/p>\n
“You know what football’s like in this country, mate? We f***ing work hard to get it good. You bring it down with shit like that,” Cosgrove said, prompting a chuckle from the reporter.<\/p>\n
“What are you laughing for? We’ll just f*** you off. You won’t get back here again.”<\/p>\n
In a podcast episode posted on Tuesday, Cosgrove said he was relieved when news of the rule’s workaround became public so he could “finally stop lying about it”.<\/p>\n
“It was a poor challenge in oppressive heat and late in the game, but the two-game suspension was a little bit harsh,” he told The Unused Subs podcast.<\/p>\n
“We were trying to get that reduced, and the power of lawyers and legal teams these days, they managed to find a way to sign me up with the Auckland reserves.”<\/p>\n
The defending champions will begin their A-League campaign at home to Melbourne City on Saturday, before an away trip to face Western Sydney Wanderers on October 24.<\/p>\n
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