Frustrated:Western United's Alessandro Diamanti has kept a diary of the Victorian A-League clubs' misadventures of getting to the ACT.Credit:Getty Images
Players and officials were tired,frustrated and angry that they had to return home in the early hours of the morning,although all recovered enough to want to go again on Tuesday - little expecting that they would face the same maddening outcome again.
''We thought we could get to Canberra and quarantine and train there until we got the exemptions from the NSW government and then we could move to the hub in Sydney. Didn't turn out that way,''one club insider said.
Western United's Italian star Alessandro Diamanti kept a video diary of the unfolding drama at the airport on Monday night."[First] we were told to catch the bus and drive for 10 hours to cross the border,"he said in the diary,translated from Italian.
“Then we were told to go to the airport and go to Canberra then a bus to Sydney. We were all on the plane ready to go and we can’t leave.
“We went back home and will see what to do,how to finish this season,because we have to go to Sydney. Fifteen minutes ago they closed the border so we can’t go.
“If you want some different experiences you need to come to Australia to do these things.
“But I’m sure it’s not going to finish here. We are are now going to go home and in 15 minutes they will tell us how to get there. Maybe on a bicycle.”
NSW deputy premier John Barilaro on Tuesday gave every indication that the clubs would get the exemptions they are seeking.
"I think we have got to work with the FFA and I will be reaching out to the FFA and seeing what support they need,"Barilaro told SBS.
"If we have got an opportunity to do so let's bring them[the Victorian clubs] across the border,let's park them in the regions or in the city and make sure they are part of the A-League that kicks off shortly."
FFA head of leagues Greg O’Rourke said that the game's governing body was lobbying the NSW government for an exemption,adding:“If we find it necessary to revise the match schedule we will do so accordingly.''
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