Football Federation Australia has moved to end the running saga involving Gold Coast United and their outspoken boss Clive Palmer by announcing the club's A-League licence has been revoked.
The club will be given the option to see out season and play the remaining four games, with the FFA offering to pay the players' wages over the period.
The game's governing body made the decision today primarily due to the actions of Palmer, who has repeatedly lashed out at the FFA over the past fortnight on a range of issues.
Advertisement: Story continues below The tipping point is believed to have come on Saturday night, when Gold Coast took to the field against Melbourne Victory with the slogan "Freedom of Speech" on their shirts, replacing the club's usual sponsor, Hyatt Regency - a company embroiled in a legal dispute with Palmer.
That decision saw the club issued with a breach of the A-League's club participation agreement for not having the shirt sanctioned by the FFA before kick-off.
When Palmer later claimed that the slogan was aimed not at the FFA but, bizarrely, in support of refugees, the FFA pointed out to the club that it was in further breach of the FIFA statutes, which state: "For all matches, all forms of advertising for sponsors, manufacturers or any third parties, of political, religious or personal statements and/or other announcements, are strictly prohibited."
Palmer tweeted earlier today that the FFA had stripped him of his licence.
It is not yet known what results will be given for the club's remaining four matches.
The FFA is about to start a press conference at its headquarters in Sydney.
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I feel sorry for my friends who are involved in the GCUSC who go to the Gold Coast Utd away trips, buy their merch and season tickets to their home games, they will be pissed off not at FFA but at Professor Clive Palmer for the way he has acted in the last couple of weeks.
The club will be given the option to see out season and play the remaining four games, with the FFA offering to pay the players' wages over the period.
The game's governing body made the decision today primarily due to the actions of Palmer, who has repeatedly lashed out at the FFA over the past fortnight on a range of issues.
Advertisement: Story continues below The tipping point is believed to have come on Saturday night, when Gold Coast took to the field against Melbourne Victory with the slogan "Freedom of Speech" on their shirts, replacing the club's usual sponsor, Hyatt Regency - a company embroiled in a legal dispute with Palmer.
That decision saw the club issued with a breach of the A-League's club participation agreement for not having the shirt sanctioned by the FFA before kick-off.
When Palmer later claimed that the slogan was aimed not at the FFA but, bizarrely, in support of refugees, the FFA pointed out to the club that it was in further breach of the FIFA statutes, which state: "For all matches, all forms of advertising for sponsors, manufacturers or any third parties, of political, religious or personal statements and/or other announcements, are strictly prohibited."
Palmer tweeted earlier today that the FFA had stripped him of his licence.
Palmer added on Twitter that he intended to fight the FFA's decision in court and unloaded on league chairman Frank Lowy.
It is not yet known what results will be given for the club's remaining four matches.
The FFA is about to start a press conference at its headquarters in Sydney.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I feel sorry for my friends who are involved in the GCUSC who go to the Gold Coast Utd away trips, buy their merch and season tickets to their home games, they will be pissed off not at FFA but at Professor Clive Palmer for the way he has acted in the last couple of weeks.
