Football Australia deal with misbehaving Olyroos in-house following flight drama

Upholding a ‘duty of care’, Football Australia has opted against making public punishments given to Olyroos involved in a flight incident while travelling home from Japan.

Football Australia has reprimanded Olyroos players for “unacceptable behaviour” on a flight home from the Tokyo Olympics but has refused to reveal the extent of the sanctions.

Less than a week after Rugby Australia gave 13 members of Australia’s men’s rugby sevens team formal warnings for “excessive drinking” on the same flight home from Japan, FA has finalised its investigation into the behaviour of up to a dozen Olyroos.

“Following the investigation, Football Australia are taking action to address all players involved in the unacceptable behaviour onboard the flight to ensure this does not occur again in the future,” a FA statement said.

“Football Australia is committed to continuously improving the culture within our teams to ensure that players represent the values of Football Australia.”

FA has also issued apologies to the Australian Olympic Committee and Japan Airlines in conceding that “some behaviour onboard the flight from Japan to Australia was unacceptable”.

However, FA chief executive James Johnson said that because of a “duty of care for our players”, names and the “personal nature of the actions taken” would not be revealed.

FA CEO James Johnson has a ‘duty of care’ to the Olyroos. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“What we can confirm is that Football Australia has conducted a thorough process over the past 10 days and has subsequently imposed strong measures that are reflective of our serious commitment to improving the culture within our teams and upholding the values of Football Australia at all times,” Johnson said.

It’s understood FA feel Olyroos players, while reminded of the values of Australian football, were caught in the “collateral damage” of the flight incident.

Meanwhile, FA will lobby the South Australian and federal governments to have Socceroos and Olyroos assistant coach Tony Vidmar excused from a further two weeks in quarantine in Adelaide after his fortnight’s worth of quarantine in a Sydney hotel following his return from Japan.

With the Socceroos due to play a World Cup qualifier China at a yet-to-be-determined overseas venue on September 2, the fully vaccinated Vidmar might be forced to miss the match because of the additional quarantine period.

The AOC has blasted the South Australian government’s decision to “ignore expert medical advice and the decision of national cabinet” by forcing Olympics athletes and staff from SA to serve a total of 28 days in quarantine, saying it posed “a significant mental health risk”.

AOC chief executive Matt Carroll said: “While other countries are celebrating the return of their athletes, we are subjecting ours to the most cruel and uncaring treatment.

“They are being punished for proudly representing their country with distinction at the Olympic Games.

“We are all promoting the obvious benefits of vaccination, but this important layer of protection is not working in favour of these athletes, given this decision.

“Not only are our Olympians fully vaccinated, but they have also been living in a highly controlled bubble in Tokyo, taking the upmost precautions – tested daily over many weeks.”

Originally published as Football Australia deal with misbehaving Olyroos in-house following flight drama