Perth Glory has officially accepted Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) decision and sanctions regarding the club’s salary cap breaches.
After being heavily fined and tossed out of the looming finals series for salary cap breaches, the Glory challenged the FFA board’s right to impose those sanctions.
The club attended a hearing before an independent FFA disciplinary committee, which the Glory claimed should have handled the salary cap case from the beginning instead of the FFA, on Wednesday night.
But on Thursday night, only hours after Glory chief executive Jason Brewer stood down from his position, the FFA revealed the club would accept all findings and sanctions.
As a result, Perth will be exempt from the 2014/15 finals series and fined $269,000 after being found guilty of exceeding the salary cap by in excess of $400,000.
A Glory spokesman described the hearing as “extremely thorough”, and said the club was well served by bringing the matter to a resolution.
Brewer says his resignation will help the franchise recover and plan ahead.
“At the end of the day the responsibility of where the club finds itself today lies with me,” he said.
“And that’s not a responsibility that I’m going to shirk.”
Chief executive David Gallop said the FFA would assist Perth Glory with future salary cap processes, and would apply no further punishment despite the foreshadowed third show cause notice regarding another breach this season.
“Compliance with the salary cap is critical to the integrity of the A-League and any breach affects everyone involved, not just people associated with the club in question,” said Gallop.
“While we have sympathy for the members, fans, players, coaches and sponsors of Perth Glory, our obligation is to protect the best interests of competition.”
Source: ABC/AAP