Talks crucial to Glory’s hopes of spending Christmas at home rather than in Brisbane hotel rooms
Talks continue in the hope of allowing Perth Glory players and staff the chance to spend Christmas at home rather than in quarantine in a Brisbane hotel.
Players’ union boss Beau Busch is “optimistic” that Perth Glory squad and staff members stranded in quarantine in Brisbane will be able to return home for Christmas.
A 35-strong Glory contingent has been in quarantine in a Brisbane hotel since last Thursday after a player tested positive to Covid-19.
It meant postponement of their A-League clashes against Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United.
The situation has also led to the chance the Glory’s travelling party will have to spend Christmas in quarantine in Brisbane hotel rooms.
However, Glory and A-League officials are in talks with Queensland and West Australian health officials about allowing the players and staff to return home to Perth on a charter flight on Thursday to serve the remainder of their two-week quarantine period in their own homes.
“We remain optimistic that a solution can be found that safeguards public health and allows the players to be with their families for Christmas and enables them to resume their season as soon as they are physically ready to do so,” Professional Footballers Australia CEO Busch said.
“We will continue to ensure they are provided with as much support as possible whilst we work towards a solution.
“It is an incredibly difficult situation for the players and the staff.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic the players have shown their commitment to protecting public health.
“As such they have been subjected to extremely strict protocols and testing regimes, which they have continued to adhere to across the past 18 months.”
Glory CEO Tony Pignata, who is in WA, told Perth TAB radio: “We’ll do whatever it takes, charter a plane for them, and they don’t even have to go through any airports.
“It’s straight chartered bus to the tarmac, on the plane and home and then we work it from here ... so fingers crossed.”
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