Sydney FC move Glory fixture from SCG to Jubilee Oval

Sydney FC’s potential Premiers Plate decider against Perth Glory has been moved from the Sydney Cricket Ground to Jubilee Oval.

Melbourne Victory’s Terry Antonis receives attention at the SCG on Saturday night. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney FC’s potential Premiers Plate decider against Perth Glory has been moved from the Sydney Cricket Ground to Jubilee Oval, but the future of possible finals matches at the maligned venue remains up in the air.

A meeting involving Football Federation Australia, Sydney FC and the SCG Trust agreed on the decision yesterday in the wake of the controversy surrounding the state of the surface for Sydney FC’s game against Melbourne Victory last Saturday.

Victory coach Kevin Muscat described the SCG pitch as disgraceful while Professional Footballers Australia labelled it deplorable after Victory midfielder Terry Antonis had to be assisted off in obvious pain after twisting his knee in an area several metres outside the cricket wicket area.

Last night, Victory were still awaiting the results of scans the Socceroo underwent on Sunday but there are suggestions the injury is not as bad as first feared.

None of the representatives involved in the talks yesterday were prepared to talk about the decision, instead issuing a joint statement. FFA head of leagues, Greg O’Rourke, said the decision to move the match, scheduled for April 18, was “in the best interests of all stakeholders to ensure A-League matches continue to be played on surfaces conducive to professional football”.

“We acknowledge that the playing surface was, and would be, playable and safe for A-League football as verified by two independent expert reports in days prior to the match as per our normal process,” O’Rourke said

“The SCG’s wicket block, though, compromises the uniformity of the field for football in particular. Following discussions with all stakeholders, we have taken the proactive decision to move the remaining Sydney FC match at the SCG to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. We appreciate all the work that the SCG Trust has undertaken to accommodate an unprecedented amount of activity on the SCG in recent months and we will continue to work with them in regards to venue usage in the future.”

Whether that will see Sydney FC play a finals match at the venue, and even the grand final if the Sky Blues qualify, remains to be seen. O’Rourke flagged the possibility that FFA would look to ANZ Stadium to host this season’s grand final when he spoke to The Australian on Sunday.

Sydney FC chief executive Danny Townsend was disappointed that the controversy had detracted from the club’s 2-1 win over Victory, a result that kept alive their hopes of winning successive Premiers Plates.

“I believe our squad didn’t get the credit they deserved for their magnificent performance on Saturday night and we need the game to be the main event,” Townsend said. “This is a decision made in the viewing interest of members and supporters.”

SCG chief executive Kerrie Mather said she understands the decision taken by FFA and Sydney FC. But the SCG Trust remain strong in their belief that the surface is fit to play on.

According to the SCG, the AFL’s independent agronomist inspected the field yesterday and laid no blame on it for the injury.

“There were no issues with the surface observed in the area where the player (Terry Antonis) fell during Saturday night’s game,” the report said. The SCG is expected to receive a more detailed report today.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley said he spoke to the Sydney Roosters yesterday and would seek an immediate meeting with the SCG to discuss the issues with the ground.

“I have spoken to the Roosters this morning,” Annesley said.

“Thankfully they are not there for another three weeks. We will be seeking a meeting as quickly as possible — hopefully in the next 24 hours with the SCG and the Roosters — to determine what action will be taken between now and their next game in three weeks.

“All codes that have used the venue have expressed similar concerns. We’ll talk to the experts and figure out what the problem is, how quickly it can be fixed, (and) what they need to do to address it.”

Another independent inspection and report, seen by The Australian, was also commissioned by the SCG Trust on March 21 and March 26 before the Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows match on March 27.