The term “glory hunter” is often bandied about by followers of poorer clubs when engaging in banter with fans of the big spenders. Supporters of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have heard it all before. As it turns out, the phrase has never been more apt than when describing the recent behaviour of Perth’s A-League club.
Having apparently shown disdain for the rules with breaches of the salary cap, Perth Glory have now accepted a ruling from Football Federation Australia from April 10 which will exclude them from participating in this season’s finals series, as well as having to pay a $269,000 fine. In doing so, they avoid any further sanction for a foreshadowed third show cause notice, which was announced this week. The club has concluded “that it is in the interests of the Club and the game to bring the matter to a resolution.”
What is expected to continue is the suffering of the club’s fans. How the Glory faithful must wonder what happened since the highs experienced in the NSL. Having reached the finals just three times in the nine previous seasons since the A-League’s inception, mismanagement off the pitch has now contributed to that record being extended by a further year. And perhaps what is most difficult to take is the extent of these infringements, which have now been established.
It is understood that a number of players were given payments which were not disclosed under the salary cap regulations. Whether or not players or coaches knew of these issues is a point for debate, but Professional Footballers Australia chief Adam Vivian is in no doubt as to where the responsibility ultimately lay.
“I think the reality is that in any of these situations it does sit with the administration, with the employers. I think the obligation for declaration is largely the issue here. We have bona fide third-party agreements, we have bona fide affiliate agreements as well during the contracting process.
“But the obligation sits with the employer that if they enter into those agreements with family or friends (of players), or enter into genuine third-party agreements with the players, that they have to be declared in the appropriate manner. Now the fact that [breach findings have been made] is not an obligation that sits on the shoulders of the player. It sits with the employer,” Vivian told the Guardian Australia.
The unpleasantness in Western Australia has created widespread damage, with Glory CEO Jason Brewer resigning from his post, while Wellington coach Ernie Merrick has called for a competition-wide audit with regards to player payments. This situation has, however, also raised timely and pertinent questions. Where exactly does accountability sit with regards to the salary cap? Are players and coaches culpable? And is enough done to regulate and make visible the financial activities of clubs? Again, Vivian is certain.
“This issue is largely around non-declaration, and that’s a far more difficult process to police and monitor. That really sits at the club level to ensure that they understand the Club Participation Agreement requires them to be honest and transparent in that process.
“I think if we’re looking at reform for the regulation of the salary cap or anything like that, then the collective bargaining process is the perfect platform to be able to introduce that. At the table at that time you have the club chairmen and owners, you’ve got the players and the PFA, and you’ve got the Federation. So there’s probably no better opportunity than now to really look at if tightening of those regulations needs to occur.
“The only way there will be an evolution at the salary cap level will be through the collective bargaining process. The salary cap is not something that has been imposed on the players, it’s something the players have agreed to through the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). So any reformation is going to be part of a bigger picture about growing the game and giving back to football, making sure it’s achieving its strategic objectives. It’s not just about regulations.”
The salary cap and marquee player rules were never meant to be accounting exercises. They are policies which are supposed to enhance the A-League through the signing of one or two world-class players while keeping the fluctuations of the competition in check. That the Glory abused this capability by shifting numbers within a spreadsheet, instead of contemplating the spirit that draws people to football in the first instance, was a demonstration of greed. That they have now accepted their punishment, at least, offers a modicum of redemption.
It’s true, clubs often win trophies because they spend enormous sums of money. But if a club, any club, deliberately breaks the rules just to get ahead, then they have gone beyond just seeking silverware. They have disrespected the faith their own supporters place in them, and that is a rift which will ultimately cost far more than any sanction handed down by a governing body.
