Wellington A-League Women's coach Gemma Lewis slams Football Australia for goalkeeper debacle

Wellington Phoenix head coach Gemma Lewis has criticised Football Australia (FA) for its delay in handling the club's emergency goalkeeper signing request, saying the A-League Women's competition risks looking «real Mickey Mouse» as a result.

Last week, New Zealand's Football Ferns called up Wellington Phoenix's first-choice goalkeeper Lily Alfeld to take part in the SheBelieves Cup in the United States.

With just one other dedicated goalkeeper registered with the club, the Phoenix sent a request to Football Australia — the regulator of the A-Leagues — for an emergency signing who could sit in reserve for second-choice keeper, Brianna Edwards, during their round 12 match against Adelaide United on Thursday night.

But despite daily calls and follow-up emails in the ensuing week, the club received no response.

«We've heard nothing,» Lewis said on Wednesday morning.

«Since we put in the exemption, we've called FA every single day and still haven't heard anything back. They haven't declined it or accepted it.

»And now obviously it's too late because [...] to get someone in, they'd obviously have to have an ECG and be medically cleared and stuff like that to be able to be signed and sit on the bench.

«So they've essentially forced our hand. We've got no other option than to put an outfield player on the bench, which we're pretty gutted about, to be honest. And also gutted at the complete lack of response.»

It took until 5pm on Wednesday for Wellington to be told that their request had been denied, which club general manager David Dome confirmed on Twitter.

The denied request means the club are now forced to list an out-field player as a reserve goalkeeper for tonight's match against Adelaide.

«It's such a hard ask to ask anyone to do