Sydney FC penalised for repeatedly breaching youth requirements

Sydney FC have received a hit to their A-League Men goal difference and a $5,000 fine after being found to have broken league regulations.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) issued Sydney with a show cause notice regarding the make-up of its substitutes bench for three games in February and March, specifically for not having enough players below a certain age.

Teams are allowed to have seven players on the bench, but under the «U-23 rule», at least three must be eligible to play for the Australian national teams and have been born on or after January 1, 1998.

The Sky Blues were found to have breached the rule in their 1-0 loss to Western United on March 23 and their 2-1 loss to Melbourne City on February 26.

They also did not include enough under-23 players in their 2-0 loss to Western Sydney on March 5.

But in a quirk, the APL conceded their own match commissioners should have picked up on the initial breach. As a result, punishment for the club was less severe than it could have been, including a possible loss of competition points.

The APL also did not find Sydney guilty of a breach against Western Sydney «in recognition of the delay in identifying the initial breach». The Wanderers won that game 2-0.

«These rules were put in place to ensure young Australian players receive as many playing opportunities as possible, and so it's important that we ensure they are observed,» A-Leagues commissioner Greg O'Rourke said.

«It's incumbent upon clubs to be fully aware of the eligibility requirements, however, we acknowledge that if this had been picked up sooner, then any subsequent breaches may not have happened.

»In the circumstances, we deem a fine of $5,000 is appropriate."

As a consequence of the goal punishment, Western