National second division looming

The formation of a national second division is a step closer following confirmation of an Australian football domestic match calendar to further align competitions and cement transfer window dates.

The 2021-22 DMC will start on October 29, with the opening round of the new A-League campaign kicking off the following day.

The 2022 FFA Cup final will be the last match of a 12-month national season, with the DMC concluding on October 28 next year.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the DMC also incorporated a “placeholder” for a national second tier competition

“The format of this competition has not yet been finalised,” Johnson said.

“The placeholder is an important first step towards the creation of this competition, allowing for its ongoing development and, subject to finalisation of the model, can be adjusted within the DMC framework.”

State NPL competitions will align finish dates to allow an NPL men’s and women’s finals weekend.

Both the A-League and the W-League – which kicks off on November 30 – will break for respective men’s and women’s FIFA international windows.

.@FootballAUS today released the Australian Football Domestic Match Calendar 2021/22, which will commence on 29 October 2021, and conclude on 28 October 2022.https://t.co/gVxuTMHdTJ

“(It will allow) the football community to focus on key events in the calendar without conflict,” Johnson said.

“This doesn’t, however, preclude Westfield W-League matches being scheduled during men’s FIFA international windows, nor does it preclude A-League matches being played in women’s FIFA international windows.”

There will also be exceptions to international window rules next season due to ongoing Covid-19 ramifications.

A-League clubs will still be able to scheduled matches on the weekend of January 29-30, an additional window FIFA added to combat potential Covid-19-caused scheduling problems, but clubs will still be required to release players for international duty.

Danny Townsend, managing director of the Australian Professional Leagues organisation that runs the A-League and W-League, said: “By reducing the amount of club versus country clashes next season we can build a brighter future for Australian football, with an all-round better football experience for players and for fans.

“This is a huge year for Australian football, and now we can all start the countdown to the start of the men’s and women’s seasons.”

Professional Footballers Australia chief executive Kathryn Gill said players welcomed the “flexibility and certainty to represent club and country”.

“The players have long advocated for international windows to be integrated within domestic fixturing, allowing them to play for club and country without interruption,” Gill said.

“The calendar will help to alleviate pressure on players who may miss vital matches and career opportunities, giving them the opportunity and certainty to represent Australia at the highest level while remaining available for their clubs for critical fixtures in the A-League and Westfield W-League.”

Source: Read Full Article