The decision has left the Sky Blues furious…
Football Federation Australia (FFA) has ended Sydney FC’s hopes of playing Terry Antonis in Saturday’s clash with Melbourne Victory.
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Sky Blues coach Graham Arnold said he intended to name Antonis in the squad to face the unbeaten Victory, after the midfielder was ruled out of the Socceroos’ friendly with Japan after suffering minor head and neck injuries sustained in a car accident on the way to the airport.
“FFA would like to clarify that in accordance with the FFA Statutes, players selected for international duty who are subsequently withdrawn due to injury or illness cannot play for their club during the period for which the player should have been released,” an FFA statement read.
“Therefore, FFA confirms that Terry Antonis is ineligible to play for Sydney FC against Melbourne Victory this Saturday.”
The ruling has heaped even more pressure onto Graham Arnold’s side, who are already missing attacking duo Marc Janko and Corey Gameiro to national team duties.
However Melbourne Victory are even worse off, with Kevin Muscat possibly missing up to nine players for the Allianz Stadium clash.
Mark Milligan, Kosta Barbarouses, Daniel Georgievski, Connor Pain, Scott Galloway and Jason Geria are all definite outs, while Archie Thompson and French centre-back Matthieu Delpierre are under fitness clouds.