Football Australia is pushing for Chris Ikonomidis to avoid hotel quarantine when he returns from Socceroos duty later this month.
Football Australia is seeking approval from the Victorian government for Melbourne Victory star Chris Ikonomidis to self-isolate at home rather than be forced to serve two weeks of hotel quarantine on his return from overseas Socceroos duty this month.
Ikonomidis will be one of just two A-League players named this weekend for the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Japan in Doha and Saitama respectively next Thursday and on Tuesday week.
The other is Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant, who was part of the previous Socceroos squad and elected to remain abroad following the matches against China and Vietnam, rather than cone home to serve a fortnight of hotel quarantine.
A travel bubble set to be approved to allow players to come into NSW without serving quarantine will result in Grant returning home following the upcoming qualifiers and ahead of Australia’s clash with Saudi Arabia on November 11.
However, Ikonomidis will have to isolate on his return to Victoria, with FA lobbying the state government to allow the attacker to do that at home rather than in stricter hotel conditions.
FA is also hopeful of a similar arrangement for a host of Melbourne City players, including star trio Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Andrew Nabbout, following next month’s matches against Saudi Arabia and China, who the Socceroos meet away on November 16.
“We are hoping that when (Ikonomidis) returns to Australia, he is able to self-isolate at home for the required quarantine period so that he is in a better environment which supports his physical and mental wellbeing, and his preparation for the A-League season, which commences on November 19,” FA chief executive officer James Johnson said.
“Beyond October’s matches we are also seeking the support of the Victorian government on its quarantine rules for fully vaccinated, locally based Socceroos players, and prospective Socceroos, to participate in our remaining FIFA World Cup qualification matches, which includes games in November 2021.
“These players, who sacrifice so much for their country, would be returning to Australia from overseas as the nation reaches 80 per cent double vaccination rates.
“New protocols, such as home isolation instead of hotel quarantine, would help to ensure that these players can continue to live out their dreams of representing their country and inspire millions of Australians.
“It would also provide crucial support for the players, and their families, as they transition back to their professional A-League Men’s club environments, minimising disruption to the professional domestic football season.”
The Socceroos squad to be named on Saturday will also include Italy-based defender Fran Karacic, who missed Australia’s wins over China and Jordan last month because of injury.
Players will start to arrive in Doha this weekend, with training sessions scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
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