Esteemed football broadcaster Lucy Zelić has slammed the Australian Professional Leagues' (APL) decision to sell the A-League men and women’s Grand Finals to Sydney for upwards of $10 million.
Prior to the announcement, the A-League Grand Final was determined by the team who finished the highest on the table after the regular season.
APL CEO Danny Townsend told SEN that the decision was made in consultation with all the clubs and to establish a new tradition in the competition.
Zelić joined the chorus of disapproval over the decision and said that she struggled to find anything positive about the decision to relocate the A-League Grand Final to Sydney for at least the next three years.
“They (the A-League) sold their soul,” Zelić said on SEN 1116's The Run Home.
“There is nothing great about this decision.
“The A-Leagues can dress this pig up as much as they like and they can call this turd whatever they want, it’s still a turd.
“It’s disgusting, it’s despicable, it’s disgraceful and it’s a slap in the face to football fans who have genuinely stood by their teams in this competition for all these years.
“We (as a sporting code) have absolutely ridden these fans through the ringer.
“Let’s say for example that Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City are in the final; you are going to force fans to find accommodation and flights.
“Who’s going to fork out $800 to go up north and back with your family? The cost of living is through the roof.
“Do you think a bunch of Sydneysiders will watch two Melbourne teams duke it out? They aren’t going to give a crap.”
Townsend said that the initial negative reaction was expected as the APL had conducted focus groups to gauge interest from supporters.
Zelić said that she wished Townsend was transparent into why the decision was made which she believes was ultimately financial.
“I’ve got nothing against Danny, he’s a great guy, but on this one I have to say it’s a disgrace,” Zelić continued.
“I would’ve much preferred idf Danny came out and said that as a league economically, we continue to struggle.
“We are not getting the ratings we would’ve liked with our new broadcast partnership.
“Crowd attendance is also quite low.
“You can line up your pockets which definitely need to be filled but with how many fans you are going to piss off, you’re going to need that money.
“If you’re going to make the cash grab for the reported eight-figure sum, tell us.
“Say that you’ve done this in the short-term and had to do it for financial reasons.
“As a sport, we need to be better.”