By Mark Baber
April 17 – A-League club Perth Glory have given up their fight against Football Federation Australia (FFA) sanctions, admitting their guilt in breaching the salary cap regulations and accepting a $269,000 fine and relegation to seventh spot in the home-and-away season – losing their place in the A-League finals.
The club had threatened to take FFA to the Supreme Court, hoping to overturn the punishment but, following a hearing on Wednesday evening, chief executive Jason Brewer apologised for his role in the saga and resigned on Thursday. Hours later, Perth finally caved in and a joint statement was issued by the club and the FFA confirming the club would not be launching any further appeals through the governing body or the courts.
The Glory were found guilty of exceeding this season’s salary cap by more than $400,000 – the third successive season in which the club has breached the salary cap. As a quid pro quo for accepting their punishment, no further action will be taken on an additional $100,000 in unreported payments and benefits the club were notified of on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Perth said, “The club received a real opportunity to be heard by the independent disciplinary committee members and put its case. Following this process the club has reached the view that it was within FFA’s power to make the decision and apply the sanction and that it is in the interests of the Club and the game to bring the matter to a resolution.”
FFA chief executive David Gallop said, “Compliance with the salary cap is critical to the integrity of the Hyundai A-League and any breach affects everyone involved, not just people associated with the club in question. While we have sympathy for the members, fans, players, coaches and sponsors of Perth Glory, our obligation is to protect the best interests of competition.”
Salaries of FFA players are regulated by a collective bargaining agreement between the FFA and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) which stipulate a minimum wage of $50,000 a season and a salary cap per club of $2.55 million in the 2014-2015 season.
Glory’s misfortune is Brisbane Roar’s gain as they now move up into sixth place, earning a spot in the finals.
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