Floods postpone A-League match

The A-League match between Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix due to be played on Sunday has been postponed because of flooding in Brisbane.

The Queensland capital is experiencing floods that are set to rival the infamous disaster of 1974 and the Suncorp Stadium pitch has been submerged by the rising waters.

The Phoenix were scheduled to fly to Brisbane on Friday but those plans are likely to change now with a venue and date for the fixture against the runaway league leaders yet to be announced, although it is expected to be on Australia Day (January 26).

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert said the uncertainty surrounding the match was of secondary importance, given the catastrophe that was unfolding in the city.

“The most important thing is the health and safety of the people in Brisbane, not a football game,” he said. “It’s not good times there at the moment.”

Wellington striker Dylan Macallister admitted the floods that had hit Queensland in the past few days, and even earlier this month, put things in perspective.

“I remember flying into Brisbane and then North Queensland a couple of weeks ago and there was water everywhere even then,” he said.

“I know the situation up there is pretty dire. It makes a football game look pretty minute compared to what’s going on to a lot of people over there.”

It is understood the options open to Football Federation Australia include finding another Queensland venue, moving the match to Wellington or calling it off altogether and splitting the points.

Wellington host Perth Glory (January 23) and Newcastle Jets (January 30) this month before away trips to Adelaide (February 5) and Sydney (February 9) and play another home match against North Queensland Fury (February 13) to round off their regular season.

Brisbane play Central Coast on Wednesday night and host Melbourne Heart (January 28) then have an away trip to North Queensland (February 5) before a home fixture against Gold Coast (February 12) sets them up for the start of the finals series.

“Hopefully there is some common sense around it,” said Herbert of the rescheduling. “It’s been a tight year anyway with rescheduling games.”

“We’ve got back-to-back home games here a week apart so that’s not so bad. We travel with the Adelaide and Sydney games so I don’t think one more is going to make any difference.”