In September 2025, Western United Football Club’s (Western United) club operation licence was suspended by the Australian A-League governing body, namely the Australian Professional Leagues (APL). The effect of this suspension or hibernation by the APL decision, for Western United not to participate in the current A-League season, has sent shockwaves through the Australian football world. This action has also raised critical questions about effective due diligence, proper regulatory oversight and the impact of ongoing legal proceedings on the Australian professional ecosystem.

Background

Western United were an expansion team that entered the A-League in the 2019-2020 season. The club was founded on a new pioneering (for the Australian context) value capture model, which was centred on real estate that encapsulated building a privately-funded 15,000-seat stadium in the outer western suburbs of Melbourne,...

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