The entire Newcastle United Jets playing group has threatened a boycott of the Asian Champions League decider away in Korea against Ulsan Hyundai.
This is unless outstanding monies for ACL group match payments are paid and bonuses for qualifying for the knockout round of 16 are guaranteed by Jets management by this weekend.
It is understood that the Jets playing group met with the Professional Footballers Association this morning and voted unanimously to threaten the boycott, and the PFA and FFA are meeting to discuss the issues.
au.fourfourtwo.com have quoted an un-named player as saying “We’re sick of waiting and negotiating, fans don’t come to game to see CEOs and VIPs sip champagne in the corporate box.
“We’re doing this for us and the other boys in the A-League but also for all the players who helped the club get into the ACL but who didn’t get their grand final bonuses.”
theworldgame.sbs.com.au have stated that they understand that the PFA advised against the boycott, however the players group were steadfast in demanding the greivances resolved. Also, in addition to match payments and bonuses, other grievances included the transit times and lengthy stopovers the players have been subjected to while travelling to away matches in the current edition of the ACL.
It is reported that Beijing Guoan players were guaranteed $4000 per player had they defeated the Jets last week, and that the Jets players were requesting a third of this figure as match bonuses moving forward.
This comes several days after Jets defender Ljubo Milicevic spoke out at the way the Jets administration has handled the ACL campaign and the lack of professionalism in the way the player group is treated.





