Australia are scheduled to play France on the A-League’s opening weekend
Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey is demanding the A-League begin to follow the rest of the world by not scheduling matches on FIFA dates.
The 49-year-old faces being shorn of several key players for the his side’s opening A-League bout with Wellington Phoenix at the Westpac Stadium on October 13 after the Socceroos’ friendly against France in Paris was scheduled for the day before.
It means Matt McKay, Jade North and Ivan Franjic will more than likely be absent for Roar due to their international commitments and Mulvey is adamant the wheels of change into must be set into motion to avoid weakening the national competition in the future.
“What needs to happen in the future is for the A-League to come into line with almost every other league in the world by not scheduling matches on FIFA dates,” Mulvey fumed to the Herald Sun.
“It’s not an ideal situation that we’re currently in, (but) with the A-League still in its formative years, it’s probably three or four years away before it’s going to happen.
“It does mean opportunities for other players to stake claims for spots in the team. It will test the depth of our squad.”
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