The Wellington Phoenix will leave Wellington for Sydney on Wednesday afternoon, in an attempt to complete the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season.
READ: Phoenix Overwhelm Melbourne Victory With Captivating 3-0 Win
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This comes after FFA confirmed at the weekend that the remainder of the regular season will go ahead, but with all matches to be played behind closed doors in Australia – including the two remaining Wellington Phoenix home games – and with no fans permitted to attend the remaining six rounds of the season.
This decision will mean the Wellington Phoenix will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in Australia. The club has reached an agreement with Australian state-based health officials to be able to train within the self-isolation window and then recommence their Hyundai A-League campaign.
Wellington Phoenix General Manager, David Dome, says the decision to travel to Sydney was not taken lightly.
‘’The decision to travel to Sydney in an attempt to complete this season, was made as a club.
‘’We have discussed this amongst ourselves, consulted with health professionals and government bodies in Australia and New Zealand and taken all possible precautions to ensure those travelling are given the best protection possible.
‘’We are also conscious that the situation is constantly evolving and it may all change again tomorrow, but we are making this decision with the best information we have available at this time.
“As things have continued to evolve rapidly over the past few days, all options have been investigated and it became apparent that suspension of the Hyundai A-League was never an option.”
Dome says that all players and staff were given the option of not travelling if they felt unsafe.
“All players and coaching staff have elected to travel to Australia tomorrow. The club also recognises the impact that this will have on players and football operations’ families, and a number of support measures are being put in place to assist them during this time.”
Wellington’s last two home matches at Sky Stadium have been cancelled, and a decision is pending from FFA as to when these matches will be rescheduled to. The club are working through the implications of this with their ticketing partner and will inform customers and season members in due course as to refunds.
The club would like to pass on its sincere thanks to all the fans and partners of the club who have reached out in support of the club, as we have worked through these challenging developments.
