A-League: Escaping Victorian teams grounded by fog before borders closed

Victorian A-League teams couldn’t get in to NSW before borders closed and now need an exemption to re-join the A-League season.

Football Federation Australia officials are working desperately to fly the A-League‘s three stranded Victorian teams into NSW despite border closures between the two states.

The Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Western United squads were due to fly from Canberra on Monday night but fog prevented the flight.

The teams remain in Victoria, with FFA in talks with the Victorian and NSW governments after applying for exemptions to players and staff from the three clubs to enter NSW for the rest of the A-League season, which restarts on Thursday week.

FFA head of leagues Greg O’Rourke said weather last night closed Canberra Airport, making it “impossible” for the teams to leave Victoria before the borders closed.

Melbourne Victory players are locked out of NSW. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“As a result, we will now begin the process to seek exemptions from the NSW Government to allow the teams to enter NSW for them to continue their season,” O’Rourke said.

“If we find it necessary to revise the match schedule we will do so accordingly and will announce once confirmed, however at this time the schedule remains the same.“

More to come