Sunday’s Hyundai A-League match between Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix has been postponed after Suncorp Stadium was closed indefinitely due to the flooding in Queensland.
The playing surface at Suncorp Stadium was entirely submerged in water on Wednesday afternoon as the state comes to grips with one of the worst disasters to hit the nation.
The floods also triggered a small electrical fire in the stadium, which ultimately forced the venue to be closed.
“The most important thing is the health and safety of the people in Brisbane, not a football game,” Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said on Wednesday. “It’s not good times there at the moment.”
Football Federation Australia will reschedule the match but have not decided on a date yet.
The Phoenix are scheduled to fly to the Queensland state capital on Friday but coach Herbert said the uncertainty surrounding the fixture was of secondary importance.
“It’s hard to know from this sort of distance (if the game can go ahead). We’re only reading and seeing it on the TV and it doesn’t look good at all,” he said.
Wellington striker Dylan Macallister admitted the events that had unfolded in Queensland in the past few days, and even earlier this month, put things in perspective.
“I remember flying into Brisbane and then North Queensland a couple of weeks ago and there was water everywhere even then,” he said.
“I know the situation up there is pretty dire. It makes a football game look pretty minute compared to what’s going on to a lot of people over there.”
It is understood the options open to Football Federation Australia include finding another Queensland venue, moving the match to Wellington or calling it off all together and splitting the points.
Wellington host Perth Glory (January 23) and Newcastle Jets (January 30) this month before away trips to Adelaide (February 5) and Sydney (February 9) and play another home match against North Queensland Fury (February 13) to round off their regular season.
Brisbane play Central Coast on Wednesday night and host Melbourne Heart (January 28) then have an away trip to North Queensland (February 5) before a home fixture against Gold Coast (February 12) sets them up for the start of the finals series.
“Hopefully there is some common sense around it,” said Herbert of the rescheduling. “It’s been a tight year anyway with rescheduling games.”
“We’ve got back-to-back home games here a week apart so that’s not so bad. We travel with the Adelaide and Sydney games so I don-t think one more is going to make any difference.”
Wellington host Perth Glory (January 23) and Newcastle Jets (January 30) this month before away trips to Adelaide (February 5) and Sydney (February 9) round off their regular season.
Brisbane play Central Coast tonight and host Melbourne Heart (January 28) then have an away trip to North Queensland (February 5) before a home fixture against Gold Coast (February 12) sets them up for the start of the finals series.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast’s fixture with North Queensland Fury at Skilled Park on Friday night is still on as scheduled.
