Football Australia (FA) has reshuffled the fixtures for the early rounds of the new A-League season, which starts on Sunday, as an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Sydney means inter-State matches are unable to be played.
The outbreak, centred on Sydney’s northern beaches, grew to 90 cases on Tuesday and has prompted other states to close their borders. Travel restrictions require people coming from New South Wales to spend two weeks in isolation when they enter a different State.
“We’ve mapped out the next month in light of the latest restrictions,” FA’s head of leagues Greg O’Rourke said in a statement.
ALSO READ | Genoa fires coach Rolando Maran after slow start
“We gained a significant amount of knowledge from the staging of the 2019-20 season which enabled us to move quickly and respond to these latest changes.”
New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix, which is basing itself south of Sydney in Wollongong for the new season, was due to play Brisbane Roar on December 29 in Queensland in the opening match for both sides.
The Roar, however, will now host Melbourne City at Redcliffe while the Phoenix will open their season against champions Sydney FC in Wollongong on January 2.
The reshuffle ensures New South Wales based teams play each other. Teams based outside of NSW can play each other without border restrictions.
Comments
SHARE