Football star Sam Kerr has addressed the exclusion of the Central Coast Mariners women's team from a recent club sale deal in an interview that was republished by Football360au over the weekend. Kerr emphasized that this situation is pushing female players to seek opportunities overseas more rapidly, indicating a decline in confidence in the local league.

Kerr's Concerns for Women's Football

Kerr remarked, “On the back of the 2023 World Cup, this shouldn’t be happening,” highlighting the disappointment surrounding the Mariners' decision. The Australian Professional League (APL), which oversees the A-League clubs, struck a deal with Malaysian businessman Ruben Gnanalingam, who opted not to include the women's team, citing a lack of experience in women's football. The APL has announced plans to pursue a separate sale of the women's team to different parties.

Impact on Players

The exclusion has left the Mariners women's team in a precarious position, with uncertainty about their future. Notably, former Mariners player Isabel (Izzi) Gomez recently departed Australia for Swedish club FC Rosengård, further illustrating the trend of Australian female players moving abroad. Gomez's transfer occurred in early July for an undisclosed fee, underscoring the challenges faced by local women's teams.

As the situation unfolds, the APL's commitment to finding a solution for the women's team remains to be seen, while Kerr's comments reflect a growing concern for the future of women's football in Australia.