Post by Andy on Dec 7, 2006 13:43:44 GMT 10
FOOTBALL Federation Australia hopes to make a second ruling on possible salary cap breaches by Sydney FC before Christmas, with the champions facing the prospect of losing at least a competition point in what could be a major blow in a tight finals race.
Occupying second place going into tomorrow night's blockbuster against runaway league leaders Melbourne Victory, Sydney know defeat at Telstra Dome could easily see them slip to third. That outcome would enable Adelaide United to leapfrog them if the Reds, as expected, beat bottom side New Zealand Knights at home on Sunday.
With six rounds remaining, there are just seven points separating six teams, and the loss of even one point could hit Sydney hard. The club has already been found guilty of breaching the salary cap on the way to winning the inaugural championship last season.
In August, FFA handed down an $89,000 fine (half suspended) and the threat of being docked one competition point should further breaches be found.
Since then, ongoing investigations have focused on the contracts of a small group of players, believed to include striker David Zdrilic, and in particular so-called "service agreements" (which accommodate non-football earnings), plus payments made to individual agents.
After three months of investigations, FFA is now prepared to act. Should the governing body decide any breaches warrant stronger action, Sydney could lose more than one point. "Yes, there are on-going investigations into salary cap breaches in season 05/06 and, ideally, we'd like to make a ruling before Christmas," said A-League head of operations Matt Carroll.
"What I can say is that the club has been very helpful. We have been interviewing some officials, some players, and some agents, and we're getting closer to making a recommendation to the [FFA] board. There is a suspended sentence of a fine and a competition point and, obviously, the standings might be affected. We'd have liked to have finalised this earlier, but the circumstances are that you have to have all the evidence before you can make any recommendations."
The salary cap breaches have forced Sydney to operate with a 19-man squad, one short of the maximum, this season and, while squad sizes will be increased to 23 next term, Sydney - who also have an Asian Champions League campaign to contend with - will struggle to improve their list if found guilty of further breaches.
"Yes, they could be restricted in terms of their recruiting ability - but they already know that," Carroll said. "It's unfortunate for the current management team, but they are paying for the past."
Occupying second place going into tomorrow night's blockbuster against runaway league leaders Melbourne Victory, Sydney know defeat at Telstra Dome could easily see them slip to third. That outcome would enable Adelaide United to leapfrog them if the Reds, as expected, beat bottom side New Zealand Knights at home on Sunday.
With six rounds remaining, there are just seven points separating six teams, and the loss of even one point could hit Sydney hard. The club has already been found guilty of breaching the salary cap on the way to winning the inaugural championship last season.
In August, FFA handed down an $89,000 fine (half suspended) and the threat of being docked one competition point should further breaches be found.
Since then, ongoing investigations have focused on the contracts of a small group of players, believed to include striker David Zdrilic, and in particular so-called "service agreements" (which accommodate non-football earnings), plus payments made to individual agents.
After three months of investigations, FFA is now prepared to act. Should the governing body decide any breaches warrant stronger action, Sydney could lose more than one point. "Yes, there are on-going investigations into salary cap breaches in season 05/06 and, ideally, we'd like to make a ruling before Christmas," said A-League head of operations Matt Carroll.
"What I can say is that the club has been very helpful. We have been interviewing some officials, some players, and some agents, and we're getting closer to making a recommendation to the [FFA] board. There is a suspended sentence of a fine and a competition point and, obviously, the standings might be affected. We'd have liked to have finalised this earlier, but the circumstances are that you have to have all the evidence before you can make any recommendations."
The salary cap breaches have forced Sydney to operate with a 19-man squad, one short of the maximum, this season and, while squad sizes will be increased to 23 next term, Sydney - who also have an Asian Champions League campaign to contend with - will struggle to improve their list if found guilty of further breaches.
"Yes, they could be restricted in terms of their recruiting ability - but they already know that," Carroll said. "It's unfortunate for the current management team, but they are paying for the past."
