FFA put ratings ahead of 'fairness and integrity' for next A-League season

The entrance of a new team is set to shake up the next A-League season with Football Federation Australia announcing several changes in the competition format.

O'Rourke

Source: AAP

With the inclusion of Western United in the 2019/20 campaign, the competition will have an uneven 11 teams.

This will mean each club plays a reduced 26 home and away games across 29 rounds, resulting in three byes for each side across the season.

Also, instead of every team playing each other three times as they currently do, each side will face off at least twice with the third opponent match-ups determined according to "agreed methodology".

This methodology has broadcast ratings as the top priority, ahead of fairness and competition integrity and A-League attendances.

This will likely mean popular derbies or marquee match-ups will be on the cards.

The season will start on Friday October 11 and end in the Grand Final on the weekend of May 16/17, with no break for FIFA international windows this season, although FFA will consider rescheduling games if Socceroos call-ups are problematic for some clubs.

The finals series structure remains the same, and split rounds are also a thing of the past.

FFA Head of Leagues, Greg O’Rourke, admitted scheduling next season had its challenges.

“With the introduction of Western United FC into the A-League 2019/20 Season we needed to facilitate a bye each round. As we look to maintain a season window which amplifies the potential of football in Australia, the presence of a bye necessitates that we apply a new format to the competition," O’Rourke said in a statement.

“This season, clubs will play each other twice with an additional six matches per club that will see some clubs play each other three times over 29 rounds. A methodology has also been agreed to determine the additional 6 matches.

“Similar to last season we activated a joint FFA/Clubs Competitions Calendar Working Group, tasked with considering and assessing the unique scheduling challenges for the A-League 2019/20 Season.

"Following extensive discussions over recent months and assessment of the A-League 2018/19 Season data, we collectively decided it is in the best interests of the A-League to play through the international breaks this season, with the possibility of rescheduling matches should a certain number of players from a team be unavailable for selection due to certain international duties.

"We are looking to release the final version of the A-League 2019/20 Season draw in July.

“We will be focused on developing a schedule which will amplify broadcast and attendance metrics, support club growth initiatives whilst providing a fair and equitable fixture schedule for all clubs that also meets key player welfare principles."

Key Points for the A-League 2019/20 Season

  • 11 Clubs
  • 29 Rounds (13 Home/Away matches per club - 3 Byes per club)
  • Round One 11-13 October 2019
  • Round 29: 24-26 April 2020
  • No break for FIFA International dates
  • No Split Rounds (Bye preference for 3 clubs participating in the AFC Champions League 2020)
  • A-League 2020 Finals Series structure remains the same (Elimination Finals (3v6 & 4v5), Semi Finals (1 v lowest ranked winner from Elimination Finals, 2 v highest ranked winner from Elimination Finals,) and the Grand Final)
  • A-League 2020 Grand Final – weekend of 16/17 May 2020
Opponent Match-up Weightings – Methodology

  • Due to the uneven number of Rounds for Season 2019/20 (e.g. 29 Rounds / 26 matches per Club), each Club will play a minimum of two matches against each other Club.
  • Select “third” opponent match-ups will be determined according to agreed methodology.
Key Principles

-    Priority 1: Maximise A-League broadcast metrics

-    Priority 2: Fairness and competition integrity for all clubs

-    Priority 3: Maximise A-League attendance metrics and other commercial priorities


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4 min read
Published 24 May 2019 4:38pm
By SBS The World Game
Source: SBS

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