Latest news with #BeauBusch
Herald Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
A-League: Western United hit with pay breach notices
Western United has again been given a 14-day deadline to pay overdue wages to players and staff. Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News. Western United has again been served with breach notices by a host of the A-League club's players over unpaid wages. It's the second time in two months that United has been issued breach notices by disgruntled players, who were also forced to endure late pay in May. United had 14 days from Friday to make the payments. If the club fails to meet the deadline, players will be entitled to leave to the club, regardless of their contract status. A club spokesman said United was in 'constant communication with all players' and was working 'closely with the PFA (Professional Footballers Australia) and the APL (Australian Professional Leagues) to ensure this is addressed in the coming days'. Earlier in the week, United officials had been confident the club's proposed new majority backers – KAM Melbourne – would have paid the players and staff their overdue wages by Friday. — Western United FC (@wufcofficial) June 17, 2025 However, the money wasn't forthcoming, leading some players issuing breach notices via PFA. KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of KAM Sports, was last month announced as financially embattled United's new controlling stakeholders. However, the deal is yet to be approved by the APL, which runs the A-League. PFA chief executive officer Beau Busch earlier this week said United's players and staff were 'victims of a governance model that is not fit for purpose, and where FA (Football Australia) and the APL appear unwilling to enforce their own regulations'. 'The professionalism of the Western United players and staff in the most trying conditions is a testament to their character and commitment to Australian football,' Busch said. 'The players (have been) left to fight for their most basic entitlement as employees. We will continue to ensure the players have access to the full resources of the PFA.' Originally published as Western United given 14 days to pay overdue wages or run risk of losing players Football Adelaide United's treatment of one the club's former players has been described as 'disgraceful'. Football Matildas star Ellie Carpenter appears to be one step closer to signing a massive transfer deal from Lyon to WSL club Chelsea, setting up a reunion with national teammate Sam Kerr.
News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Western United given 14 days to pay overdue wages or run risk of losing players
Western United has again been served with breach notices by a host of the A-League club's players over unpaid wages. It's the second time in two months that United has been issued breach notices by disgruntled players, who were also forced to endure late pay in May. United had 14 days from Friday to make the payments. If the club fails to meet the deadline, players will be entitled to leave to the club, regardless of their contract status. A club spokesman said United was in 'constant communication with all players' and was working 'closely with the PFA (Professional Footballers Australia) and the APL (Australian Professional Leagues) to ensure this is addressed in the coming days'. Earlier in the week, United officials had been confident the club's proposed new majority backers – KAM Melbourne – would have paid the players and staff their overdue wages by Friday. A pitch fit for the European champions 😉🤩 The @FIFACWC is underway with the Rose Bowl in perfect condition for @PSG_inside and @atletienglish yesterday thanks to our groundsman, Justin Lang ðŸ'�ðŸ'š — Western United FC (@wufcofficial) June 17, 2025 However, the money wasn't forthcoming, leading some players issuing breach notices via PFA. KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of KAM Sports, was last month announced as financially embattled United's new controlling stakeholders. However, the deal is yet to be approved by the APL, which runs the A-League. PFA chief executive officer Beau Busch earlier this week said United's players and staff were 'victims of a governance model that is not fit for purpose, and where FA (Football Australia) and the APL appear unwilling to enforce their own regulations'. 'The professionalism of the Western United players and staff in the most trying conditions is a testament to their character and commitment to Australian football,' Busch said. 'The players (have been) left to fight for their most basic entitlement as employees. We will continue to ensure the players have access to the full resources of the PFA.'
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Western United's future seemingly secure despite player wages again being late
Western United's A-League future is expected to be secured within two weeks despite the club being again late with the payment of player wages. The financially embattled United announced on May 2 that KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of American company KAM Sports, had bought a 'controlling stake' – understood to be worth $100 million – in the club and its parent company, Western Melbourne Group. However, the transaction had to be approved by Wyndham City Council, the APL and Football Australia. And with the KAM Melbourne only having met this week with APL boss Stephen Conroy, the deal is yet to have been given the green light. However, United officials are confident that the new ownership will be approved by early next month, And despite not yet being ratified as the club's new majority owners, KAM Melbourne was set to inject funds into United to ensure overdue wages were paid by Friday. It's the second time in two months that United has been late with the payment of wages, and it's a situation that has angered Professional Footballers Australia chief executive officer Beau Busch. Representing the west ðŸ'š Rhys Bozinovski and Matt Grimaldi starred in the U23s first friendly against the Korea Republic! Whilst Abel Walatee and Kane Vidmar got minutes during the second matchup between the two sides ðŸ'� Academy director Anthony Frost assisted in the dugout 🌟 — Western United FC (@wufcofficial) June 11, 2025 'The professionalism of the Western United players and staff in the most trying conditions is a testament to their character and commitment to Australian football,' Busch said. 'They are the victims of a governance model that is not fit for purpose and where FA and the APL appear unwilling to enforce their own regulations. 'Regrettably this has once again meant that the players are left to fight for their most basic entitlement as employees. 'We will continue to ensure the players have access to the full resources of the PFA.' Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory have signed former Adelaide United midfielder Louis D'Ariggo on a two-year deal. D'Arrigo, 23, has joined the Victory from Polish club Lechia Gdansk. 'Joining Melbourne Victory is an exciting step in my career,' D'Arrigo said. 'This is a club with an incredible culture, passionate fans, and a real hunger for success. 'To be part of that environment and have the chance to contribute is something I'm grateful for.' Elsewhere, the Roar have confirmed the signing of former Wellington Phoenix, Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners left-back James McGarry on a three-year deal. News Corp Australia reported last week that McGarry was poised to join Brisbane from Scottish club Aberdeen, who last season loaned the New Zealand international to Greek outfit Athens Kallithea.
ABC News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Soccer players call for Football Australia to ban yellow-card bets, tackle match fixing
The professional soccer players' association has called for gambling on yellow cards to be banned in the wake of the A-League's second match fixing scandal in 12 months. In a rare public criticism of Football Australia, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has also blasted the governing body's integrity unit, demanding that it drastically scale-up its player education program. The association's CEO Beau Busch said he decided to make the organisation's demands public after a player with Melbourne-based A-League team Western United was last week charged with match-fixing offences involving games played in April and May. The latest scandal comes a year after three Macarthur FC players were charged with match-fixing offences in May last year. If convicted, the players allegedly involved in both matters face potential prison time. "We need to learn from this now. We need to get far better," Mr Busch said. "If it's a matter of public pressure being applied to deliver better outcomes for the game, we're comfortable doing that." ABC Investigations revealed last week that Victoria's gambling regulator has launched a probe into Football Australia's ability to protect its players from match fixing, and the range of betting markets it allows on soccer. Football Australia is currently renegotiating its contracts with bookmakers that set out the range of games and elements of play on which gambling companies can offer bets. Mr Busch called on Football Australia to ban gambling on yellow cards in the wake of the Macarthur FC and Western United matters. In both cases, players are alleged to have intentionally received yellow cards in acts of apparent spot-fixing. Mr Busch said allowing such bets was "potentially leaving sport open to more manipulation". "We need to look at how damaging this has been to the sport and can we have confidence that we can design a new system that will negate those risks as well?" He said gambling should only be allowed on yellow cards again if Football Australia drastically improved its integrity training. In 2023, Four Corners revealed that Football Australia gets a cut from bets placed on all levels of soccer in Australia, from international Socceroos and Matildas games to amateur suburban matches. The governing body does not publicly disclose exactly how much revenue it earns from the payments from gambling companies, which are known as product fees. But its latest annual report showed it received $15.1 million in "other" revenue during 2024, which included product fees from gambling companies, appearance fees, fines against players and payments from the A-League operator, Australian Professional Leagues. Football Australia's acting CEO, Heather Garriock, has been travelling in Saudi Arabia for the Socceroos latest World Cup qualifier, so was unavailable for an interview. Football Australia did not respond to questions about its negotiations with gambling companies. Mr Busch called for a bigger proportion of Football Australia's gambling revenue to be invested in integrity education for players. "You should not get the benefit of this gambling money that comes into the sport without the burden of making sure our people are safe," he said. Mr Busch said the current integrity training program — which is delivered as an annual, online video seminar — did not adequately teach players about the consequences of match fixing. Mr Busch said his association had repeatedly asked the governing body to resume in-person integrity training — which was moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic — since the Macarthur FC players were charged a year ago. "We've tried to work collaboratively with Football Australia to try to improve that, but I don't think there has been a significant improvement despite the damage that has occurred to the sport," he said. "We want to see that swiftly remedied." No system is 100 per cent secure, but the Signal app can be used to protect your identity by using end-to-end encryption. Please read the terms and conditions of the app to work out if it is the best method of communication for you. Mr Busch said when he played in the A-League in the late-2000s, teams were forced to undergo an annual intensive training program run by Football Australia's integrity unit that drilled into them the risks of match fixing. "There was a significant workshop that we did in the preseason," he said. "It was an in-person workshop." He said the current online seminar is only delivered in English, and in-person training should cater to players recruited from overseas. "If you look at the players that are playing in our competition, we have a range of languages, from Spanish and Japanese, to French, Italian and German," he said. "We need to make sure that every single player has not only sat and watched the webinar but actually can clearly understand their obligations." After the ABC put the players association's concerns to Football Australia, it responded by saying it would resume face-to-face integrity training before the start of the next A-League season. "Football Australia and several other bodies, including Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), Professional Footballers Australia, FIFA, and the Asian Football Confederation, contribute to the delivery of integrity education," it said in a statement. "Football Australia is continually evolving the delivery of its integrity education in conjunction with other partners. "Football Australia continues to engage with the PFA to further strengthen the delivery and content of integrity education." Melbourne University sports integrity expert Jack Anderson said player education was crucial in combating match fixing in soccer. "Proper education, engaging with the players face-to-face and regularly circling back to them during the season, is hugely important," he said. "When you think about the poor publicity that a sport attracts when things go wrong, any investment in education will pay huge dividends."
7NEWS
22-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Western United issued with breach notice by own players over unpaid wages
Embattled A-Leagues club Western United has been served with breach notices by both its men's and women's players over unpaid wages and superannuation. Inexplicably, Western's A-League Men players have to attempt to overturn a 3-0 deficit in Saturday's semi-final second leg against Melbourne City after not receiving their most recent pay. The players' union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), has lashed United's 'unacceptable' conduct and on Tuesday issued breach notices. United must complete payments within two weeks, by Tuesday June 3, or players can take further action, including termination of contract. 'The ongoing failure of Western United to meet its contractual obligations to players, including unpaid wages and superannuation, is unacceptable,' chief executive Beau Busch said in a statement. 'The professionalism and commitment of the players and staff in extremely difficult circumstances has been remarkable. 'We are actively engaging with both the club and the APL to ensure the matter is resolved swiftly and the players will continue to be supported with the full resources of the PFA.' It is just the latest blow to the expansion club, which is currently subject to a men's player registration ban from FIFA, understood to relate to a dispute with former striker Aleksandar Prijovic. United cannot register new players until January 2027 unless that dispute is resolved. The Tarneit-based club had fallen behind on payments in a previous pay cycle but were able to complete them. It's understood the PFA had been optimistic United's pay situation would be resolved with the announcement earlier this month that incoming new investors will take a controlling stake in parent company Western Melbourne Group. Instead, unpaid men's and women's players attended the club's end-of-season awards night on Tuesday, the same day their union lodged the breach notices on their behalf. 'The club has been in constant communication with the players and is working closely with the PFA and the APL to address these matters urgently,' United said in a statement. 'Everyone at the club is fully focused on our semi-final second leg against Melbourne City on Saturday and we look forward to seeing our supporters and Australian football fans in attendance for a fantastic occasion.' The sale to KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of American group KAM Sports, is subject to regulatory checks from the APL and Football Australia. The PFA is also conducting its own due diligence checks on KAM Melbourne. The APL has been contacted for comment.
