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Coronavirus: PFA threatens legal action against Perth Glory over stand-down notices
Written by Sports Desk. Posted in CoronaVirus Watch. | 27 March 2020 | 437 Views
Tags: Football, Perth Glory, Aleague

The Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has demanded Perth Glory reinstate players said to have been issued with stand-down notices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement on Saturday, the PFA threatened to initiate legal proceedings against Glory owner Tony Sage.

The PFA said it had "been provided with stand-down notices issued to its members at Perth Glory" by Sage.

"The players acknowledge that everybody in Australia is facing a collective challenge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," PFA chief executive John Didulica said.

"In times like this, our community needs leadership and, from the perspective of football, a commitment to collaboratively rebuilding our sport.

"The PFA continues to call for a collective solution to address our game's challenges, as has been the approach adopted by the AFL and sporting bodies around the world. However, Tony has shown his preference for unilateral, reckless and unlawful action.

"A fortnight ago, it was fine to relocate players to the east coast away from their families and expose them to a global pandemic. Now, when the opportunity arises, it is considered acceptable to stop paying them. These are not the traits of a sport that values its people.

"We are positioned to take the same course of action if any other A-League club owner elects to take this course of action in contravention of both the law and the sports broader needs at this time."

Perth Glory decided against commenting when contacted by Stats Perform.