Soccer: Questions raised as Pride field a weakened team

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A decision by Eastern Pride to play their youth side in the Australian National Soccer League game against Canberra Cosmos last weekend has raised questions on both sides of the Tasman.

The club, based in Morwell, about two hours out of Melbourne, were in strife last Friday after their failure to pay players for at least six weeks.

The Professional Footballers' Association, on behalf of the players, asked Soccer Australia to postpone the match in Canberra.

When that request was rejected, the match went ahead with the youth side making the trip and losing 1-7.

There are a number of concerns - off and on the field.

With the season nearing the business end and clubs in the top six jockeying for positions for the playoffs, goal difference can become an important issue.

Three of Eastern Pride's remaining four games are against teams in the top six who are seeking either home advantage or, as one of the top qualifiers, a double life.

Big winning margins by one or other of these teams against weakened opposition is regarded as unfair.

Off the field there are concerns by betting agencies, including the New Zealand TAB. In this case they were unaware of the changed circumstances, and still had Canberra Cosmos paying $1.80 to win.

"If there are doubts about a team we can, and have in the past [in a Super 12 rugby game], suspend betting," TAB spokesman Kevin Romyn said.

"We would still honour bets already made. In cases like this we tend to be the one who suffers," Romyn said.

"Often the first time we get wind of something like this is if someone places a big bet. In this case, I'm surprised we did not get hit."

Romyn said there was no arrangement with Soccer Australia for the TAB to be told of major team changes.

Football Kingz chairman Chris Turner said that while he did not want to comment on the Eastern Pride situation, he had faith in Soccer Australia to sort out the situation.

"We would expect clubs to put out their strongest possible teams until the end of the season whether or not they were still in with a chance of making the playoffs," Turner said.

"Incidents like this show the importance of getting the structure of the league right.

"Obviously, there is a concern for us.

"If we missed out [on making the playoffs] on goal difference to Canberra Cosmos at the end of the season, we would not be happy. Everyone wants a level playing field."

Turner said the TAB's role in incidents like this was not a concern to the Kingz because they did not benefit from betting on the game here.

New Zealand Soccer receives 5 per cent on TAB turnover and 1 per cent of profits on soccer betting, which last season was about $7 million.