New signing Jaiden Kucharski and captain Ben Garuccio unable to play for Western United due to FIFA registration ban
Embattled Western United remains in turmoil, with a FIFA registration ban costing the A-League club the services of two important players.
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Western United could lose recent signing Jaiden Kucharski before he plays a competitive game for the club due to a registration ban that will prevent him and club captain Ben Garuccio from playing in an Australia Cup round-of-32 clash against Sydney FC on Tuesday night.
United announced the signing of ex-Sky Blues attacker Kucharski earlier this month despite knowing that he could not be registered due to an ongoing FIFA ban stemming from a unresolved financial dispute involving the club’s former striker Aleksandar Prijovic.
The ban also applies to left-back Garuccio, as he didn’t re-sign with United until after he had become a free agent, meaning he needs to be re-registered.
As a result, the pair can’t play against the Sydneysiders at Ironbark Fields, and Football Australia is also investigating whether United breached the ban by fielding Kucharski in a friendly game last week against NPL Victoria club Oakleigh Cannons.
It continues the turmoil that the financially embattled United finds itself in.
The club’s proposed new ownership structure, which was announced in May and involves KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of American company KAM Sports buying a $100m controlling stake in the club and its parent company Western Melbourne Group, is yet to be approved by the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the A-League.
The lengthy delay for approval is understood to be because the APL is yet to receive KAM Melbourne’s completed ownership proposal.
The ongoing uncertainty about United’s future and the registration ban has 23-year-old Kucharski and his representatives assessing his immediate future.
Other A-League clubs are interested in the services of the former Australian under-17 international, and there are suggestions he might seek to be released from his two-year contract unless the registration ban is resolved, and that could be dependent on KAM Melbourne’s majority ownership of United being approved.
United’s financial problems meant players and staff were paid late for three successive months until this month’s wages arrived on time.
Superannuation payments were due on Monday.
United will face a Sydney side that won’t include Brazilian star Douglas Costa, who is yet to arrive back in Australia following an extended off-season break.
Sydney’s bid to sign former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller has failed, with the German veteran electing to continue his career in America’s Major League Soccer competition, most likely with Canada-based club Vancouver Whitecaps.
In other Australia Cup round-of-32 games on Tuesday night, Gold Coast Knights host Auckland FC, Southern Districts Raiders meet Macarthur FC, and Olympic Kingsway take on Melbourne Victory.
In Sunday’s all A-League battle, Wellington Phoenix knocked Perth Glory out of the Cup, winning a penalty shootout 8-7 after scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of normal time and extra time.
Originally published as New signing Jaiden Kucharski and captain Ben Garuccio unable to play for Western United due to FIFA registration ban
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