'We are degrading the A-League'

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

MARK Bosnich says A-League clubs are "being treated with contempt" after some of the competition's best young talent was plucked away for the AFC Under 22 Championships in Oman

The former Socceroos and Mariners goalkeeper says it isn't acceptable that 18 players were whisked away for what is essentially a practice tournament during one of the more important periods of the domestic season.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"This isn't a qualifying tournament, it's purely developmental," Bosnich said on Fox Sports' Sunday Shootout.

"I wish we could have compromised earlier but self-interest always prevails in football," he said.

"Clubs are being treated with contempt and it's degrading the A-League."

Watch what Bozza had to say about the tournament in the video at the top of this page.

Bosnich's criticism followed that of Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond, who was unimpressed with losing Adam Taggart, Josh Brilliante, Andrew Hoole and Connor Chapman for Friday night's stalemate with Melbourne Victory, who were without Nick Ansell, Scott Galloway, Jason Geria and Connor Pain.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"For me it is a blight on the game for the supporters and the members who pay their money to watch the game and I don't think it was right, van Egmond said after the match.

"I think it could have been handled a lot easier. It should have been a development squad that goes over."

"You can't tell me that it is better for the young boys to go over there than it is here in the A-League where they are playing against men each week."

But former Socceroo and now coach of Australia's under 17 team, Tony Vidmar, says the tournament, which is seen as preparation for the 2016 Olympics, should take precedence.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"It's a great experience and when your country calls, you go," Vidmar - who's brother Aurelio is the team's coach - said on Shootout.

"This is important. Every game is important. We've gone into Asia, we've struggled.

"It would be a great learning experience for the young kids.

"If players can choose not to go once, they'll just keep deciding not to play, and that won't help us."

Connor Pain of Melbourne Victory is another play away in Oman. Source: Getty Images

But Bosnich has his concerns for the players making the trip to Oman.

"The A-League clubs pay the players, not the FFA," he said.

"If they get injured, the FFA won't pay their wages.

"At this time of the season, you've got to think what the players need. You can't tell me the quality of that tournament is better than here.

Australia will play three matches in the tournament, and if the side makes it all the way to the final, A-League players won't come back to their clubs until after January 26th, meaning they would miss three matches.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

'We are degrading the A-League'

Dengan url

http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2014/01/we-are-degrading-a-league.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

'We are degrading the A-League'

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

'We are degrading the A-League'

sebagai sumbernya