APL to provide charter flight to bring Glory Players home for Christmas
Following close collaboration with Perth Glory, Governments of Western Australia and Queensland, and the PFA, the A-Leagues is pleased to announce that Perth Glory Men’s Football Team will be repatriated from Queensland in time for Christmas.
The team will be transferred to Western Australia via charter flight, following rigorous testing protocols and will fulfil the remaining seven days of their mandatory 14-days COVID-19 quarantine in self-managed quarantine, strictly complying with local health requirements.
The team has been in quarantine in Brisbane since 16 December, following a positive COVID-19 test within the team.
Greg O’Rourke, Commissioner, A-Leagues said: “We are delighted with this outcome and, along with Perth Glory, want to thank the Governments of Western Australia and Queeensland, in particular: WA Health; WA Police; and QLD Health, for enabling the players to return home, without impact on the community.”
“We also commend the resilience of our Perth Glory team members who have managed the uncertainty and anxiety of this situation well. It has been a very challenging time for everyone involved and this is the outcome we have all been working towards. We are delighted we have jointly found a way to reunite team members with their immediate families in time for Christmas.”
Players are expected to return to competition in January, dependent on athletic conditioning, to ensure minimal impact to the team’s season.
COVID cases at Melbourne City confirmed – Round 6 match postponed
The A-Leagues can confirm that six players from Melbourne City FC’s Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s football department have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in isolation and all report to be currently feeling well.
The case involves double-vaccinated individuals who tested positive to a PCR test on 21 December enacted after their daily rapid tests earlier in the day.
As a result of the number of cases, the A-Leagues have determined that Melbourne City’s scheduled round six away match against Brisbane Roar has been postponed.
The club’s primary concern is for the health and safety of all players, staff and their families. All positive cases and those close to them are adhering to relevant state government health directives.
The A-Leagues protocols continue to be effective for screening and subsequent PCR testing in detecting the virus and ensuring immediate isolation.
We will continue to work with Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar on confirming a new schedule for the postponed match as soon as possible.
Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers Boxing Day clash to be played behind closed doors
The A-Leagues today confirms that this weekend’s Isuzu UTE A-League match between Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers (26 December) will be played behind closed doors at McDonald Jones stadium.
The decision to host the match without fans in attendance was agreed with both clubs and is in line with other events in the Newcastle community, following the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in the region.
All ticket holders for the match will receive full refunds.
The Isuzu UTE A-League match will be screened on Paramount+ from 5:00pm this Sunday, 26 December.
