The A-League, the highest category of football in Australia, returns next Friday with several changes regarding the competition that had to be suspended last March due to the coronavirus. The tournament will resume without VAR, something that responds to an attempt by the Australian Football Federation (FFA) to reduce costs. The remaining 32 matches -27 of the final stretch of the regular season plus five of the 'play-offs' for the title – will not have video arbitration, a trend that has already been followed by other countries such as Japan, whose gold category, the J-League , also started again without VAR -in this case they alleged a shortage of personnel-.
Without Mikel Susaeta or Diego Castro
The absence of video arbitration will not, however, be the great novelty of the A-League. The ocean competition, which will have a small number of fans in the stands, will not be able to count on some of its stars, who either did not return to Australia or have decided not to participate due to health reasons. Melbourne Victory will not be able to enjoy Ola Toivonen or Tim Hoogland, who are still in their countries of origin – Sweden and Germany respectively. Your coach before the pandemic, the Spanish Carlos SalvachúaHe will also not return to Australia after signing as an assistant at the Belgian Sint-Truiden. Western United will not have the Greek international Panagiotis Kone, while Benches like Brisbane Roar -Robbie Fowler- or Adelaide United -Gertjan Verbeek- were also orphaned.
Nor will he return to Australia Mikel Susaeta, who did not join the Melbourne City preseason in New South Wales “For personal motives” Although everything indicates that in the next few days he will sign with Rajo Majadahonda. Perth Glory, meanwhile, will miss his great star, the also Spanish Diego Castro. The Galician is in Australia, but he has decided not to join the concentration of his team because he sees it “a risk for him and his family”. “We are very disappointed to have asked for a quality player from Diego Castro. He is our leader,” said Jacob Burns, director of football for Perth Glory.
Therefore, the only 'spaniard' who will participate in the final stretch of the A-League will be the Alicante midfielder Juande Prados, who will continue to bring a Spanish accent to the core of Perth Glory. After 20 disputed days, the purples are fifth and occupy 'play-off' positions for the title, stage that they already played last year after finishing the regular season occupying the lead. The 27 matches corresponding to the regular season will be played over the next month, while the final of the 'play-offs' that will decide the great champion of the A-League is scheduled for next August 30.