Latest news with #AustralianProfessionalLeagues
Sydney Morning Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
How hosting the Club World Cup can take the ‘handbrakes' off the A-League
Since assuming control in 2021, the Australian Professional Leagues have struggled to find a working formula to convert the many millions who watch the national teams and overseas leagues, or play the game, into fans of the A-Leagues. After the collapse of the bold KeepUp experiment, the APL has been gripped by financial turmoil, with distributions to clubs falling by almost $1.5 million to just $530,000, and ongoing material concerns about the ability of some clubs to stay afloat. Johnson does not believe unbundling was a mistake, and said there are plenty of examples across world football in which healthy leagues are run independently of their national federation. Asked for his opinion on how the A-League can improve, he said the key was connecting it into global football: a strategy he said was proven by the 2015 Asian Cup and the 2023 Women's World Cup, and will be again by the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. 'That's where there is no other sport that can compete with football, when we are hardwired in and connected to global football,' he said. 'For me, it's not so much about what's holding us back - it's what propels us forward. That's the space we need to continue to play. Because I think that as soon as you bring those [tournaments] back, the handbrakes are off. 'You get the football community, the stakeholders, focused on the competition and the legacy that can be provided, and I think that's where we have seen our quickest growth. So I think implementing a strategy for more global competitions is something that allows the handbrakes to come off.' Johnson had previously flagged FA's desire to bid for the hosting rights for the new Club World Cup, and believes that should be a high priority for the game in the coming years. Despite widespread scepticism across Europe, the first edition of the rebooted tournament - currently being played in the United States - is proving a worthy addition to football's calendar, albeit with the caveat that the calendar itself is jam-packed and at risk of burning out overworked players. The next edition will be held in 2029, and potential hosts are already lining up, including Brazil, Qatar, a combined Spain-Portugal-Morocco bid, and the United States again. An Australian bid, Johnson said, would be extremely appealing to FIFA because of its ability to reach different timezones across Asia. 'It's a competition that I think will, iteration after iteration, get bigger and bigger. It would be a great competition to bring to Australia,' Johnson said. 'That's when I think football becomes interesting to government. Today you have the millions and millions that will watch the Socceroos and Matildas and the millions and millions that play. If the strategy is to ensure that they are watching the A-League, I think the best way to do that ... is to connect the A-League to global club competitions, whether that be the Premier League, Champions League, or the hosting of a major club competition. I think it just adds another element to the game here that we haven't seen. 'The beneficiaries of the Women's World Cup were the national teams and community football. The beneficiaries of a Club World Cup would be the clubs.' Johnson also said FA should not give up hope of hosting the men's World Cup, despite being railroaded out of a bid for the 2034 edition by Saudi Arabia. 'I believe Australia will one day host a men's World Cup. It's a matter of when, not if,' he said. 'I think our 2010 bid was too early, and it's easy to say that in hindsight. But if you look at what we've accomplished since then … we're steadily building a strong track record. If we continue hosting major global tournaments, even youth competitions, we'll become a country like the United States, Canada, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia - nations that are now considered 'normal' hosts for major events. I believe we're already on that trajectory. 'We need to keep doing the work, and all of us have a responsibility to maintain the pressure and continue bringing major competitions to our region.' There is another way to connect the A-Leagues to global club football: through broadcasting, another area which is unrecognisable in Australia compared to when Johnson began at FA in late 2019. Optus Sport is shutting down, having on-sold their football rights packages - headed by the Premier League - to Stan Sport, which is owned by Nine, the publishers of this masthead. That deal means that, for the first time since 2016, the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League are on the same platform again. Loading Meanwhile, the APL is currently in negotiations for a new broadcast agreement. The current contract with Network 10 and Paramount + to show the A-Leagues expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. Though Nine has shown interest, a short-term extension is expected with the incumbent rights holders - and that would lead to a situation where all of the major football rights deals in Australia, including the A-Leagues, Socceroos and Matildas, and Premier League, will all be in market at roughly the same time. 'This landscape is changing rapidly, but one thing remains constant,' Johnson said. 'When you look at where the football audience is, and if we step back from just thinking about Australian football, and instead see ourselves as part of global football here in Australia - that's how I view it - you'll notice that audiences naturally gravitate toward certain properties: World Cups, the Euros, Champions League, Premier League, national team football.
The Age
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
How hosting the Club World Cup can take the ‘handbrakes' off the A-League
Since assuming control in 2021, the Australian Professional Leagues have struggled to find a working formula to convert the many millions who watch the national teams and overseas leagues, or play the game, into fans of the A-Leagues. After the collapse of the bold KeepUp experiment, the APL has been gripped by financial turmoil, with distributions to clubs falling by almost $1.5 million to just $530,000, and ongoing material concerns about the ability of some clubs to stay afloat. Johnson does not believe unbundling was a mistake, and said there are plenty of examples across world football in which healthy leagues are run independently of their national federation. Asked for his opinion on how the A-League can improve, he said the key was connecting it into global football: a strategy he said was proven by the 2015 Asian Cup and the 2023 Women's World Cup, and will be again by the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. 'That's where there is no other sport that can compete with football, when we are hardwired in and connected to global football,' he said. 'For me, it's not so much about what's holding us back - it's what propels us forward. That's the space we need to continue to play. Because I think that as soon as you bring those [tournaments] back, the handbrakes are off. 'You get the football community, the stakeholders, focused on the competition and the legacy that can be provided, and I think that's where we have seen our quickest growth. So I think implementing a strategy for more global competitions is something that allows the handbrakes to come off.' Johnson had previously flagged FA's desire to bid for the hosting rights for the new Club World Cup, and believes that should be a high priority for the game in the coming years. Despite widespread scepticism across Europe, the first edition of the rebooted tournament - currently being played in the United States - is proving a worthy addition to football's calendar, albeit with the caveat that the calendar itself is jam-packed and at risk of burning out overworked players. The next edition will be held in 2029, and potential hosts are already lining up, including Brazil, Qatar, a combined Spain-Portugal-Morocco bid, and the United States again. An Australian bid, Johnson said, would be extremely appealing to FIFA because of its ability to reach different timezones across Asia. 'It's a competition that I think will, iteration after iteration, get bigger and bigger. It would be a great competition to bring to Australia,' Johnson said. 'That's when I think football becomes interesting to government. Today you have the millions and millions that will watch the Socceroos and Matildas and the millions and millions that play. If the strategy is to ensure that they are watching the A-League, I think the best way to do that ... is to connect the A-League to global club competitions, whether that be the Premier League, Champions League, or the hosting of a major club competition. I think it just adds another element to the game here that we haven't seen. 'The beneficiaries of the Women's World Cup were the national teams and community football. The beneficiaries of a Club World Cup would be the clubs.' Johnson also said FA should not give up hope of hosting the men's World Cup, despite being railroaded out of a bid for the 2034 edition by Saudi Arabia. 'I believe Australia will one day host a men's World Cup. It's a matter of when, not if,' he said. 'I think our 2010 bid was too early, and it's easy to say that in hindsight. But if you look at what we've accomplished since then … we're steadily building a strong track record. If we continue hosting major global tournaments, even youth competitions, we'll become a country like the United States, Canada, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia - nations that are now considered 'normal' hosts for major events. I believe we're already on that trajectory. 'We need to keep doing the work, and all of us have a responsibility to maintain the pressure and continue bringing major competitions to our region.' There is another way to connect the A-Leagues to global club football: through broadcasting, another area which is unrecognisable in Australia compared to when Johnson began at FA in late 2019. Optus Sport is shutting down, having on-sold their football rights packages - headed by the Premier League - to Stan Sport, which is owned by Nine, the publishers of this masthead. That deal means that, for the first time since 2016, the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League are on the same platform again. Loading Meanwhile, the APL is currently in negotiations for a new broadcast agreement. The current contract with Network 10 and Paramount + to show the A-Leagues expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. Though Nine has shown interest, a short-term extension is expected with the incumbent rights holders - and that would lead to a situation where all of the major football rights deals in Australia, including the A-Leagues, Socceroos and Matildas, and Premier League, will all be in market at roughly the same time. 'This landscape is changing rapidly, but one thing remains constant,' Johnson said. 'When you look at where the football audience is, and if we step back from just thinking about Australian football, and instead see ourselves as part of global football here in Australia - that's how I view it - you'll notice that audiences naturally gravitate toward certain properties: World Cups, the Euros, Champions League, Premier League, national team football.
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
A-League rocked by betting scandal as Western United and state player charged over yellow card manipulation
A Western United player is among two footballers charged over the alleged manipulation yellow cards for betting purposes during several games this season. On Sunday, Victoria police charged two Melbourne men, aged 24 and 27, for numerous offences including the use of corrupt conduct for gambling purposes in four A-League matches during April and May. While the individuals are yet to be named, it is understood one of the men charged is a current player at Western United, while the other is a player in the state league. And on Sunday, the Australian Professional Leagues – the body in charge of the A-League competitions, confirmed a player had been charged. 'The Australian Professional League is aware that one A-League player has been charged by Victorian Police with offences related to gambling,' a spokesperson said. 'The integrity of our sport is something that has to be protected without compromise, and we are engaging with all relevant authorities to assist with this matter.' Both men were placed under no-fault interim suspensions by Football Australia following the charges. 'The club is aware that one Western United men's player has been charged about an alleged breach of sports betting guidelines,' the club said in a statement. 'We take this matter seriously, condemn any actions that compromise the integrity of the game, and are co-operating fully with all relevant authorities. Given the nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment any further on the matter.' Police executed warrants on Friday morning after an investigation involving Football Australia and the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit. The man from West Melbourne was charged with 10 offences including four counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome, four counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome, use of information derived from corrupt conduct for betting purposes, and attempting to commit an indictable offence. The man from Kingsville was charged with 16 offences, including 11 counts of using information for betting purposes, four counts facilitating conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome, and attempting to commit an indictable offence. They were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 31.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Men's A-League player charged with betting scandal
Two men, including a Western United footballer, will face court for their involvement in an alleged betting scandal surrounding the A-League men's soccer season. Detectives from the Victoria Police Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit charged a 24-year-old West Melbourne man and a 27-year-old Kingsville man on Sunday with numerous offences, including use of corrupt conduct for betting purposes. Both were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 31. While the individuals are yet to be publicly named, it is confirmed one is a player at Western United, which finished third in the A-League Men competition this season, while the other man is a state leagues player. "The club is aware that one Western United player has been charged in relation to an alleged breach of sports betting guidelines," a United club spokesperson said. "We take this matter seriously, condemn any actions that compromise the integrity of the game, and are cooperating fully with all relevant authorities. "Given the nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment any further on the matter." Police allege four matches in April and May 2025 were the subject of 'player to be carded' wagering manipulation. The Australian Professional Leagues, who run the A-League competitions, confirmed a player had been charged. "The Australian Professional Leagues is aware that one A-League player has been charged by Victorian Police with offences related to gambling," a spokesperson said. "The integrity of our sport is something that has to be protected without compromise, and we are engaging with all relevant authorities to assist with this matter." In a statement, a Football Australia spokesperson said it took the integrity of the game extremely seriously and was fully cooperating with external authorities. "Football Australia has taken swift action today to impose 'no fault interim suspensions' to the two individuals charged, and those suspensions will remain in place until further notice," the statement said. The charges come a year after the former captain of Sydney club Macarthur FC was accused of paying two younger team mates up to $10,000 to deliberately receive yellow cards in a scheme allegedly masterminded by a South American connection. Celebrated team leader Ulises Davila and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis have been charged over a betting fix police say led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.
7NEWS
01-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Australian football rocked by alleged A-Leagues corruption scandal
Two Melbourne men, including a Western United footballer, have been charged with a combined 26 offences relating to alleged gambling corruption in the A-Leagues season. The pair will face court after detectives from the Victoria Police Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit charged a 24-year-old West Melbourne man and a 27-year-old Kingsville man on Sunday with numerous offences including use of corrupt conduct for betting purposes. Both were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 31. While the individuals are yet to be publicly named, it is understood one of the men is a player at Western United and the other is a state leagues player. The Australian Professional Leagues, who run the A-League competitions, confirmed a player had been charged. 'The Australian Professional Leagues is aware that one A-League player has been charged by Victorian Police with offences related to gambling,' a spokesperson said. 'The integrity of our sport is something that has to be protected without compromise, and we are engaging with all relevant authorities to assist with this matter.' In a statement, a Football Australia spokesperson said it took the integrity of the game extremely seriously and was fully cooperating with external authorities. 'Football Australia has taken swift action today to impose 'no-fault interim suspensions' to the two individuals charged, and those suspensions will remain in place until further notice,' the statement said. Police allege four matches in April and May 2025 were the subject of 'player to be carded' wagering manipulation. Western United has been contacted for comment. It comes a year after the captain of Sydney club Macarthur FC was accused of paying two younger team mates up to $10,000 to deliberately receive yellow cards in a scheme allegedly masterminded by a South American connection. Celebrated team leader Ulises Davila and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis have been charged over a betting fix police say has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.
