PFA demands immediate resolution to Roar ownership woes

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) turned up the heat on Brisbane Roar and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to take immediate steps to remedy the ownership crisis at the club with the A-League kick-off now just five weeks away.

Professional Footballers Australia Brisbane Roar Football Federation Australia A-League

Brisbane Roar will kick-off the A-League season in under five weeks (AAP) Source: AAP

Roar will play Western Sydney Wanderers at Pirtek Stadium in the opening game of the A-League on 8 October and PFA is concerned that the closer it gets to the kick-off without the situation being sorted out the worse it is going to look for the country's major football competition.

"The PFA expects the situation at the club to be resolved immediately. If this not the case we expect FFA to act swiftly," a statement from a PFA spokesperson released to The World Game on Friday read.

"The club's consistent failure to respect the rights of the players highlights why the PFA must act to protect the rights of the players in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement."

The problems related to the Bakrie Group's current ownership of Roar have been well documented and include repeatedly late monthly wage payments to players and unpaid superannuation going back for up to 15 months.

There have also been complaints - some extending to legal action - by companies providing services to the club about unpaid debts.

And the most recent development has involved former Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey, who was sacked by the club last November, launching legal action against Roar in the District Court. Mulvey is claiming unpaid wages, as well as damages and costs.
FFA has repeatedly threatened the Bakrie Group with the loss of the A-League licence if it doesn't get its ownership of the club in order.

A week ago, FFA CEO David Gallop was quoted in a report in The Courier-Mail newspaper, saying: "The Bakrie Group is under no illusion of what's required to remedy this situation.

"FFA has advised the Bakrie Group that they will forfeit any right to the A-League licence if the current situation continues.

"Paying wages and superannuation arrears, clearing debts and recapitalising the business are the next urgent steps. To their credit, they understand this and have told us they intend to act quickly."

But, still, there has been no solution from the owners, or next step taken by FFA.

Brisbane has already lost one of its best players as a result of the ownership crisis, with midfielder and current Australia squad member Luke Brattan having chosen to take the club on for breach of contract due to unpaid superannuation.

An independent arbitrator ruled in Brattan's favour and he is now seeking to find a club in Europe.

It was subsequently reported that Roar would appeal the decision. The club had seven days to do so from the time it received documentation detailing the arbitrator's full decision. The World Game understands that period runs out on Monday.

If there is no appeal, or if the club does exhaust all appeal avenues and is unsuccessful, it presumably clears the way for any other Roar player to follow the same course of action as Brattan if he wished to do so.


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3 min read
Published 4 September 2015 1:31pm
Updated 4 September 2015 2:18pm
By Greg Prichard
Source: SBS

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