Western Sydney Wanderers’ match scheduling issues a top priority for players association

WESTERN Sydney’s scheduling complaints may have fallen on deaf ears at Football Federation Australia, but the players’ association has vowed to take it up.

Mu Kanazaki (L) of Japan's Kashima Antlers fights for the ball with Yusuke Tanaka (C) of Australia's Western Sydney Wanderers during their AFC Champions League football match in Sydney on April 21, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

WESTERN Sydney’s scheduling complaints may have fallen on deaf ears at Football Federation Australia but the players’ association has vowed to take it up.

Since winning the Asian Champions League in November, the Wanderers have fallen flat in the A-League. The grand finalists of the last two seasons are desperate to avoid picking up the wooden spoon and are on the brink of being eliminated from the ACL.

The Wanderers lost 2-1 to Japanese side Kashima Antlers in Parramatta on Tuesday night, leaving their ACL hopes in tatters. The defending champions will have to get a result away to Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande in the last group game — and rely on other results going their way — to stand any chance of progressing.

Nikita Rukavytsya celebrates his goal for the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Even Kashima coach Toninho Cerezo had sympathy for the Wanderers, who played their second game in three days, while Kashima had their weekend J-League fixture moved back to Thursday to give them more time to prepare for their ACL clash.

It’s been an ongoing battle for Wanderers coach Tony Popovic. Last month his team played seven games in 20 days, a punishing schedule that resulted in a lengthy list of injuries for the club.

Football leagues around the world, including the English Premier League, have flexible scheduling for teams involved in the Champions League in order to give them the best chance of success in those tournaments, and Professional Footballers Australia believes the A-League needs to get to that point.

“Match scheduling is a top priority for the PFA during the current CBA negotiations,” PFA chief Adam Vivian said.

“Current scheduling not only raises doubts regarding player wellbeing, but also disadvantages clubs for being successful. Clubs should not be forced to choose between the welfare of their players and on field success.”

Tom Juric contests possession with Ogasawara Mitsuo of Kasmina.

Despite the PFA’s attempts, Popovic isn’t expecting the A-League to make changes anytime soon.

“It’s something I don’t see happening in the near future,” Popovic said.

“Would I like it? I wouldn’t like it, I’d love it.

“I’d love to have a (domestic) competition that plays a game on a Thursday to help their team in their league to have a chance of progressing (in the ACL) to play on a Tuesday.

“Definitely it would help. When that will happen I don’t know, or if it will happen.

“But I’m sure that any (Australian) team that goes in the Champions League will think the same as Western Sydney when they enter the competition.”