Soccer: Phoenix game postponed

The soccer pitch at Suncorp Stadium is totally water logged. Photo / Courtesy Seven Network Australia – Brisbane News'

Sunday's A-League soccer match between the Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium has been postponed until the saturated city recovers from deadly floods that continue to swamp the state.

The match is expected to be rescheduled for January 26, Australia Day, in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast meaning the Phoenix will have to cope with three matches in eight days at a time where their play-off hopes will likely hang by a thread.

Suncorp was placed off limits earlier yesterday when floodwaters from the swollen Brisbane River turned the 52,500-seat venue into a virtual swimming pool - a kayaker was sighted floating on the playing surface while a stadium worker waded waist-deep.

The murky torrent infiltrated the stadium after daybreak, sparking a minor electrical fire after a transformer short circuited.

Football Federation Australia started considering contingency plans for the round 23 fixture yesterday when it was apparent Brisbane's CBD would be inundated.

Officials met yesterday after Suncorp was submerged to ponder several options - playing the match in another Brisbane location this weekend; relocating the game to Wellington's Westpac Stadium or cancelling the game and giving both sides a point.

After a two-hour summit the FFA opted to reschedule for the public holiday in late January -- by then it is hoped the city will be capable of hosting a contest between the runaway competition leaders and the Phoenix, who are currently eighth, two places outside the play-off frame.

The other possibility is holding the game on neutral ground at Gold Coast United's Skilled Park.

FFA spokesman Mark Jensen said the date and venue should be confirmed today.

Jensen said cancelling the game and transforming it to a 0-0 draw -- and one point for either side -- was deemed unfair for the Phoenix, who are in a position where they will likely need to win the match to advance to the post-season.

"Wellington are pushing for a top six finish and they still need every point they can get," he said.

Ironically the Phoenix may have welcomed an automatic point given they have won only once in 12 attempts outside of Wellington this season - and collected just five of a possible 36 points.

Jensen said relocating the game to Wellington Stadium this weekend was also considered unfeasible while finding an alternative venue in Brisbane on Sunday was impractical given the widespread disruption flooding had caused to emergency services and transport networks.

Wellington Phoenix spokesman John Mitchell said the club would have been happy to host the match.

"The stadium's available, as a club we were ready to run the game," he said.

However, he also questioned whether the game should take place on Sunday.

"There are people losing their lives and their livelihoods over there. That's got to be the biggest thing to consider. Is it morally right to go ahead with the game?

"This is a terrible tragedy."

The delays causes a late season a logjam of fixtures, though Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was philosophical.

"The most important thing is the health and safety of the people in Brisbane, not a football game," he said.

"It's not good times there at the moment."

The Phoenix will make the trans-Tasman trip between home games against Perth Glory on January 23 and the Newcastle Jets the following Sunday.

They then have away trips to Adelaide (February 5) and Sydney (February 9) before rounding off their regular season at home against North Queensland on February 13.

"It's been a tight year anyway with rescheduling games," Herbert said.

"We've got back-to-back home games here a week apart so that's not so bad. We travel with the Adelaide and Sydney games so I don't think one more is going to make any difference."

- NZPA