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The '''A-League''' is the premier domestic [[Australia]]n [[football (soccer)]] competition. Founded in 2004 and staging its [[A-League 2005-06|inaugural season]] in 2005–06, the league is contested by by seven teams covering Australia's major cities and regional centres, as well as one representing [[New Zealand]]. The team which finishes on top of the league table at the end of the 21-round regular season is awarded the Premiership, with the winner of the subsequent four-team finals series awarded the Championship. The current Premiers and Champions are [[Melbourne Victory FC]], who won both titles in the [[A-League 2006-07|2006–07 season]].
The '''A-League''', founded in 2004, is the premier domestic [[association football|football]] competition in Australia.<ref>[https://www.a-league.com.au/ Hyundai A-League.]</ref>


==History==
==Notes==
===Origins===
{{Reflist}}
Prior to 2004, the [[National Soccer League]] had been Australia's leading national football competition. Founded in 1977, the league struggled for acceptance within the wider Australian community, a fact often attributed to the prominence of "ethnic-based" clubs in the competition. This viewpoint was highlighted by, among others, stakeholder Stephen Stacey, who said in the 2003 Crawford Report, "The major problem was and still is the inability of existing clubs, many of which are oriented around the specific ethnic communities, to appeal to the wider community."<ref>''Australian Sports Commission'', 2003: 62</ref> The lack of support for the NSL, especially in its latter years,  became obvious in the fact that the league was without a sponsor or television coverage, with all of the thirteen clubs who contested the [[National Soccer League 2002-03|2002&ndash;03 season]] losing money.<ref name="timerunningout">{{cite web | date = October 31, 2002 | last = Cockerill | first = Michael | title = Time running out for sinking NSL | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/30/1035683476535.html | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | accessmonthday = March 3 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The league average attendance figure for the 2002&ndash;03 season was slightly more than 4,000, with [[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]], described as one of the league's few "multi-ethnic" clubs,<ref>''Australian Sports Commission'', 2003: 53</ref> the only team to average over 5,000 per match.<ref>{{cite web | title = 2002&ndash;03 attendances | url = http://www.ausfootballreview.com/afr/pmwiki.php/NSL/2002_2003 | work = AusFootballReview | accessmonthday = March 3 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> During the 2002&ndash;03 season, serious concerns about the viability of the NSL in the long term became prevalent, with chairman [[Remo Nogarotto]] describing the league's position as "[[Doomsday Clock|five minutes to midnight]]",<ref name="timerunningout"/> and the [[Professional Footballers' Association]] preparing a model for a new national competition.


The formation of the A-League was foreshadowed by the publication of the [[Crawford Report]], a government-funded independent review of the state of football in Australia, in April 2003. The report concluded that the National Soccer League was "unsustainable" in its current form,<ref>''Australian Sports Commission'', 2003: 87</ref> whilst recommending an overhaul of the governance system of football in Australia, including the appointment of an interim board headed by [[Frank Lowy]],<ref>''Australian Sports Commission'', 2003: 5</ref> one of the main backers for the establishment of the NSL nearly thirty years prior. A month after the release of the Crawford Report, both Nogarotto and [[Soccer Australia]] board member Bill Walker stepped down from their positions, and at 10:45am on July 19, 2003 the final three remaining directors were unanimously deposed and Lowy took over the reigns of the embattled organisation.<ref>{{cite web | date = July 20, 2003 | last = Sygall | first = David | title = Lowy's men take over at Soccer Australia | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/19/1058545628962.html | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | accessmonthday = March 3 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> With Soccer Australia officially declared bankrupt in September 2003 and replaced immediately by the Australian Soccer Association (now [[Football Federation Australia]]), the [[Australian Government]] provided [[Australian dollar|$]]15&nbsp;million in grants and funds to the new governing body in an attempt to revive the game.<ref>{{cite web | date = September 27, 2003 | title = Government kicks in $15m to save game | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/26/1064083199101.html | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | accessmonthday = March 4 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> A taskforce to assess the future of the national competition was set up by Lowy, and reported back in December 2003, recommending a "fresh start for the way top-level soccer is to be organised and played in Australia".<ref name="nsltaskforce">{{cite web | date = December 9, 2003 | title = Chairman welcomes new report on the future of NSL | url = http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=7019 | work = [[Football Federation Australia]] | accessmonthday = March 4 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The initial structure suggested by the taskforce included that the new league consists of ten clubs,<ref name="nsltaskforce"/> although this figure was reduced to eight when the final structure for the league was confirmed in March 2004.<ref name="leaguestructure">{{cite web | date = March 22, 2004 | title = ASA announce several significant initiatives | url = http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=aus_soc_news_feat_news_news_item&id=7435 | work = [[Football Federation Australia]] | accessmonthday = March 4 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
[[Category:Association football competitions in Australia]][[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
 
===Establishment===
On March 22, 2004 it was announced that the eight-team league would feature one club from each of [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Adelaide]], [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]], [[Brisbane]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] and [[New Zealand]], with the final team to be selected from other expressions of interest.<ref name="leaguestructure"/> An initial twenty submissions<ref>{{cite web | date = June 12, 2004 | title = 20 submissions received for new national competition | url = http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=605&pageid=11 | accessmonthday = March 4 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> were whittled down to twelve by late July, with a [[Central Coast, New South Wales|Central Coast]] bid being the only one outside the originally nominated cities.<ref>{{cite web | date = July 21, 2004 | title = ASA delighted with number of bids for new league | url = http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=7772 | work = [[Football Federation Australia]] | accessmonthday = March 4 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The formation of the A-League was officially announced on November 1, 2004, with the eight teams selected including five previously established clubs and three entirely new entities.<ref>{{cite web | date = November 1, 2004 | title = Australian Soccer announces the Hyundai A-League | url = http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=614&pageid=11 | accessmonthday = March 4 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The FFA announced "modest" expectations for crowd attendances, set at an average of 10,000 per game, with financial turnover forecasted to be $50&nbsp;million for the first season.
 
==Format==
===Regular season===
The regular season of the A-League is played mainly during the Australian [[summer]], from late [[August]] through to [[January]] of the following year. It is made up of 21 rounds, with each of the eight teams playing each of the others three times &ndash; twice at one team's home stadium and once at the other's. Teams which are allotted two home matches against a particular opponent in one season are then allotted a single home match against that opponent in the following season. The winner of each match is awarded three competition points, or in the case of a draw, the competing teams gain one point each. At the end of the 21 rounds the teams are ranked by the number of competition points they have accumulated over the course of the season. If two or more teams have an equal amount of points, they are then ranked based on [[goal difference]], total goals scored, head-to-head records between tying teams and finally on the number of [[Misconduct (football)|cards]] each team received.<ref name="Rules">{{cite web | url = http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=rules | title = Hyundai A-League > Rules | work = A-League.com.au | accessmonthday = November 3 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> The top-ranked club is awarded the title of "Premiers", and is entered into the following season's [[AFC Champions League]].<ref name="AFCCL">{{cite web | url = http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=3823 | title = Grand Final rematch to open HAL season | work = A-League.com.au|date = May 1, 2006 | accessmonthday = November 3 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
 
===Finals series===
The top four teams at the end of the regular season are then entered into a finals series to determine the Champions. The series is played under the [[McIntyre final four system]], with the top two teams playing off for a direct place in the Grand Final, whilst the third- and fourth-placed teams vie for a spot in the preliminary final against the loser of the major semi-final. The first round of matches are played over [[two-legged match|two legs]], with the winner determined by goals scored over the two matches, and then, if equal, the [[away goals rule]]. If no winner emerges via this method, the tie progresses to [[extra time]], and finally to a [[penalty shootout]].<ref name="Rules"/> The preliminary final is played at the home stadium of the losing team from the major semi-final, with the winning team progressing to the Grand Final. The winner of the Grand Final is declared "Champions", and gains qualification for the [[AFC Champions League]]. Where the same team wins both the Premiership and Championship, the Grand Final runner-up is awarded Australia's second position in the AFC Champions League.<ref name="AFCCL"/>
 
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==Clubs==
The clubs participating in the A-League are determined via a licensing system, similar to franchising used in many major North American leagues. Upon the launch of the A-League, each of the eight foundation clubs were allotted guaranteed five-year tenures, with territorial exclusivity for all centres except for [[Sydney]] and [[Melbourne]].<ref>{{cite web | date = March 22, 2004 | title = ASA announce several significant initiatives | url = http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=601&pageid=11 | work=A-League.com.au | accessmonthday = February 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> With the A-League as the only national football competition in Australia, there is no provision for the [[promotion and relegation]] of clubs to and from lower leagues, unlike the majority of European national systems. The existing eight licenses may be renewed for a further five years by June 2008, at which point the FFA has suggested that two more licences could become available, expanding the league to ten teams.<ref>{{cite web | date = February 16, 2007 | last = Hand | first = Guy | title = Hope for A-League problem kids | work = [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]] | url = http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21237960-23215,00.html | accessmonthday = February 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref>
 
Football Federation Australia does however retain control over the licences through a "Club Participation Agreement", a breach of which allows the FFA to revoke any holder's licence. This occurred during the 2006&ndash;07 season, where Octagon Sports Limited, owners of [[New Zealand Knights FC]], were found to have breached an insolvency clause in the agreement.<ref>{{cite web | date = December 14, 2006 | title = FFA Statement regarding New Zealand Knights | url = http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=6349 | accessmonthday = February 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The licence was immediately returned to the FFA, who subsequently offered it to [[New Zealand Soccer]] in order to retain a New Zealand-based club in the competition.<ref>{{cite web | date = February 15, 2007 | title = NZ Soccer offered Hyundai A-League licence | url = http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=7057 | accessmonthday = February 25 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref>
 
===List of A-League clubs===
{| class="prettytable"
|-
!Club
!City
!Region
!Home ground
!First season
!Premierships
!Championships
|-
|'''[[Adelaide United FC]]'''
|[[Adelaide]]
|[[South Australia|SA]]
|[[Hindmarsh Stadium]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|0
|-
|'''[[Central Coast Mariners FC]]'''
|[[Central Coast, New South Wales|Central Coast]]
|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
|[[Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|-
|'''[[Melbourne Victory FC]]'''
|[[Melbourne]]
|[[Victoria (Australia)|Vic]]
|[[Telstra Dome]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|-
|'''[[Newcastle United Jets FC]]'''
|[[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
|[[EnergyAustralia Stadium]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|-
|'''[[New Zealand Knights FC]]'''
|[[Auckland]]
|[[New Zealand|NZ]]
|[[North Harbour Stadium]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|-
|'''[[Perth Glory FC]]'''
|[[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]
|[[Western Australia|WA]]
|[[Members Equity Stadium]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|-
|'''[[Queensland Roar FC]]'''
|[[Brisbane]]
|[[Queensland|Qld]]
|[[Suncorp Stadium]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|0
|-
|'''[[Sydney FC]]'''
|[[Sydney]]
|[[New South Wales|NSW]]
|[[Aussie Stadium]]
|align="center"|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|align="center"|0
|align="center"|1
|}
 
==Premiers and Champions==
{| class="prettytable"
|-
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan=2|Premiership
!colspan=2|Championship
|-
!Premiers
!Runners-up
!Champions
!Runners-up
|-
|[[A-League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]]
|'''[[Adelaide United FC]]'''
|[[Sydney FC]]
|'''[[Sydney FC]]'''
|[[Central Coast Mariners FC]]
|-
|[[A-League 2006-07|2006&ndash;07]]
|'''[[Melbourne Victory FC]]'''
|[[Adelaide United FC]]
|'''[[Melbourne Victory FC]]'''
|[[Adelaide United FC]]
|}
 
==References==
===Citations===
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; -webkit-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>
 
===General references===
* Australian Sports Commission. (2003). ''Report of the Independent Soccer Review Committee into the Structure, Governance and Management of Soccer in Australia &ndash; April 2003'' [http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2003/soccerinquiry/content.asp <nowiki>[Electronic version]</nowiki>]. Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory: Australian Sports Commission Publications. ISBN 1740130642
* Hyundai A-League. (2005, August 8). [http://www.a-league.com.au/?s=history History]. Retrieved March 3, 2007.
 
==External links==
* [http://www.a-league.com.au/ Official A-League website]
* [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/ Official Football Federation Australia website]
 
 
[[Category:CZ Live]]
[[Category:Sports Workgroup]]

Latest revision as of 11:00, 4 July 2024

The A-League, founded in 2004, is the premier domestic football competition in Australia.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ Hyundai A-League.
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