Asian Cup 2015: Saudi Arabia kick media out as they hold secret training at unauthorised venue
SAUDI Arabia have gone to extraordinary lengths to prepare for the Asian Cup, with police ordering media to leave as the team conducted training at an unauthorised venue.
Asian Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Asian Cup. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SAUDI Arabia have gone to extraordinary lengths to prepare for the Asian Cup, with police ordering media to leave Ballymore on Thursday night as the team conducted a training session at an unauthorised venue.
Asian Football Confederation officials are set to investigate the matter ahead of the Saudis’ Group B clash against Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The Saudis had been scheduled to train at 6.45pm (Queensland time) at Bowen Hills facility Perry Park, one of two designated Brisbane Asian Cup training venues, the other being the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Nathan.
JEDINAK: PAST PAIN PUSHING SOCCEROOS
NEILL TELLS SOCCEROOS TO MAKE MOST OF OCCASION
GROUP-BY-GROUP GUIDE TO ASIAN CUP
Instead, the Green Falcons’ moved training to Herston ground Ballymore, a rugby union venue where A-League champions Brisbane Roar have trained for several years.
No AFC officials or tournament staff were at the venue.
But there was a figure of authority in the form on an Australian Federal Police officer who flashed his badge as he demanded accredited tournament media waiting outside the partially enclosed stadium to leave the premises.
Additional police presence was called as the media weren’t in a hurry to leave, believing they were within their rights to stay put.
The Saudi Arabians trained at Perry Park on Tuesday night, but media were forced to leave after 15 minutes of the session.
It’s believed team officials weren’t happy with parts of the training ground being able to be seen from the road.
Extra efforts have since been made to restrict people watching training from outside the Perry Park premises.
Both Saudi Arabia and China are due to train on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Fowler keen to clear the air on Paris flop
Accusations of “pampering” were thrown at the Matildas following their disappointing exit at the Paris Olympic Games.
Huge concerns for new AFC Women’s Champions League
It hasn’t kicked off yet but FIFPRO Asia have serious concerns about the financial strain the AFC Women’s Champions League will have on clubs, athletes’ welfare and disruptions to domestic competitions.