A-League 2020: Roar squad will be forced to quarantine in hotels on their return to Brisbane
After originally been told they would be able to quarantine in their own homes on returning to Queensland, Roar players now face two weeks in a hotel in a morale-shattering blow.
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Brisbane Roar players are furious after being told they will have to serve a two-week quarantine period in a hotel after their involvement in the A-League finals series is over.
In a morale-shattering blow ahead of their elimination final against Western United on Sunday at Bankwest Stadium, the Roar squad were informed on Friday that Football Federation Australia had failed in its bid for an exemption from the Queensland government to have the players self-isolate for two weeks in their own homes on their return from the NSW hub.
Similar quarantine regulations will also be imposed on three Brisbane-based A-League referees – Chris Beath, Alex King and Alireza Faghani – on their return to Queensland from the finals series in NSW.
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In contrast, Adelaide United players have been able to quarantine in their own homes, as will the Perth Glory squad once they have completed their finals campaign.
Western United and Melbourne City players will go straight into lockdown in their own homes in Victoria once their finals commitments are over, as did the Melbourne Victory squad on their return home last week.
The Wellington Phoenix squad will be forced to quarantine in a hotel when they re-enter New Zealand, however they have known that for some time.
It’s understood the Roar players had originally been told they would be able to quarantine in their own homes on returning to Queensland.
The backflip has further angered the Roar squad after they were forced to enter the NSW hub immediately after their July 19 match against Adelaide United on the Gold Coast despite their next match not being until July 29 in Sydney.
The Roar also had other travel and scheduling requests denied while in the NSW hub before the COVID-19 “hot spots” were announced.
A-League boss Greg O’Rourke said FFA was disappointed with the Queensland government’s refusal to allow the Roar players to quarantine in their own homes.
“But we understand the public health desire of the Queensland government and it came straight from the chief health officer (Dr Jeannette Young),” O’Rourke said.
While players from NRL and AFL clubs had been given exemptions from the Queensland government to allow those codes’ seasons to continue, O’Rourke said it was different for the Roar players as their season would be finished on their return to Brisbane.
“This is about when your season is completed and you’re exiting the bubble,” he said.
O’Rourke said FFA would pay for the players’ hotel stay while in quarantine.
Roar chief executive officer David Pourre said: “The club doesn’t talk about players’ private matters when they finish the competition and where they reside during break.”
Originally published as A-League 2020: Roar squad will be forced to quarantine in hotels on their return to Brisbane