Tensions between Australian football and soccer have flared over a dispute about the scheduling of the A-League grand final next May.
The AFL on Wednesday stood its ground regarding the notice given by Football Federation Australia for the purposes of scheduling the May 17 grand final originally set down for May 10 but later pushed back a week to accommodate next year's Asian Champions League.
Should Melbourne Victory, currently top of the A-League ladder, qualify for the title play-off, it faces the prospect of having to play at the smaller capacity AAMI Park, with Etihad Stadium and the MCG on the weekend of May 16-17 drawn to host up to five AFL games.
The FFA said on Wednesday that it had alerted both the MCG and Etihad Stadium management as long ago as May that either arena may be required on May 10 or 17.
But the AFL says it was only notified by the Victorian state government on October 16 about the later date, with the FFA it claims only making contact just over a week ago.
AFL general manager of broadcasting and scheduling Simon Lethlean said the league was told only of the May 10 date by Etihad Stadium and the Victory at the start of its preparation of the 2015 fixture in July.
He said the AFL had subsequently scheduled only two matches at Etihad across that weekend, while also honouring a government request to keep the MCG free in mid-July for the International Champions' Cup.
The FFA released a statement on Wednesday night saying that Etihad Stadium, the MCG and the state government had all been regularly updated "until the confirmation of the grand final date".
"The public confirmation of the 17 May date occurred more than five weeks ago on 19 September and was reported in the national media," the statement read.
"FFA notes the statement by the AFL today blaming a communication breakdown between Etihad Stadium and the AFL for its lack of knowledge of the 17 May date, in preparation of its yet-to-be-released 2015 fixture.
"FFA rejects as irrelevant the reference to direct communications between FFA and the AFL. As standard practice venue hirers such as FFA deal directly with venue managers and government agencies in booking venues, not with other sporting bodies."
The AFL is refusing to budge on the fixture, due to be released on Thursday morning, with dates and venues already established, and only timeslots to be finalised.
Lethlean said it was too late to alter the number of matches per round in Victoria. He said the logistical demands of the 2015 draw were greater because of less flexibility due to the later start to accommodate cricket's World Cup, as well as this year's two byes being reduced to only one next season.
