Clive Palmer enraged by Frank Lowy blow to Gold Coast United

FRANK Lowy says he is prepared for a court battle that would pit two of the richest men in the nation against each other.

Frank Lowy

FRANK Lowy says he is prepared for a long and costly court battle that would pit two of the richest men in the nation against each other after he stunningly revoked Clive Palmer's A-League licence yesterday.

The serious possibility of a "battle of the billionaires" - they have a combined worth of about $10 billion - looms large now that Football Federation Australia, of which Lowy is chairman, announced yesterday the Queensland mining magnate's persistent breaches of his A-League participation agreement meant he could no longer run a club.

Borrowing from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lowy told a hastily arranged media conference that "Gold Coast United has been terminated".

"We had no alternative because of his flagrant disregard for A-League rules and disrespectful comments," Lowy said.

That brought a swift and predictable response from Palmer, who has been engaged in a war of words with Lowy and FFA. An enraged Palmer called on the federal government to investigate the administration of FFA following "this ludicrous decision" and foreshadowed a legal battle.

It is believed Palmer is in the process of seeking to injunct FFA.

"Gold Coast United has been denied natural justice and we are prepared to go to the highest court in the country to challenge this ludicrous decision," he said. "We have no intention of deserting our players and supporters."

Palmer, who will hold a press conference today, also launched a staggering personal attack on Lowy.

"Frank Lowy is an institution in Australian sport but judging by this decision he might be visiting a different kind of institution," he said. "He has brought the game into disrepute. The sport should not be run by dictators like him."

Lowy brushed the comments aside with "That's his opinion".

Never one to back away, Lowy admitted FFA would most likely have to defend its decision through the legal system.

"It's possible, yes. I don't know for sure, but I probably think so," Lowy replied when The Australian asked about legal ramifications.

"I don't know how long it could go for. It could be a long process ... (but) depends on Mr Palmer and the courts."

However, Lowy said he was confident of FFA's legal position. "I would have preferred some better solution (to solve the issue), but we have rock-solid legal advice to do what we are doing," he said.

On another disastrous day for the code, FFA said it had no alternative but to take the licence off Palmer, whose decision to defy an FFA edict not to use the words "Freedom of Speech" on the jerseys of the players and on signage around the ground before the match against Melbourne Victory last Saturday was the straw that broke FFA's back.

It followed his comments in a newspaper last week in which he declared: "I don't even like the game. It's hopeless. Rugby league is a better game". He said he had been taken out of context.

In coming to its decision, the head body said Gold Coast had made "at least three clear breaches of the participation agreement", namely, "a conscious and deliberate contravention of FFA policies and procedures; deliberate defiance of a direction given by FFA; and repeated public statements that brought the game into disrepute and are prejudicial to the interests of the game".

Lowy said: "As custodians of the game, we had to act to protect the integrity of the A-League, its nine clubs, the players, fans and sponsors." The chairman of Westfield, Lowy said he had made every attempt to talk to Palmer yesterday in an attempt to negotiate "a smooth completion of the season and a dignified exit for Mr Palmer ... I phoned, I sent messages, I texted him and emailed, but I got no response," Lowy said.

He said FFA wants the Gold Coast players to finish off the season so that the integrity of the competition is not affected. It hopes to hire the players for the last four matches, though the Professional Footballers Association has cast doubts on that proposal.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said all practical steps would be taken to get United over the line for the rest of the season. He warned Palmer not to interfere. "If Mr Palmer tries to obstruct this attempt, he should stand condemned by the entire football community," Buckley said.