A-League side Sydney FC's search for injury-replacement players has “taken a turn as the club is now looking to lure underpaid European-based players with the offer of financial stability as well as first-team football,” according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold said his plan to bring in foreign players ready to walk into competitive football “hinged on finding those with contracts deemed void” because clubs had failed to pay them. After the introduction of Football Federation Australia rulings this season requiring loan fees paid to clubs to be included in the salary cap, Sydney FC has “struggled to find quality match-fit players based overseas who they can bring in” during the January transfer window. The new laws regard loan fees paid between clubs -- similar to transfer costs -- as part of player payments and that has made “Sydney's scouting job more difficult” this summer. Arnold said, "We've got injury-replacement money, Europeans cost a lot of money to bring in … Players who are available are either unfit or club-less because FFA changed the loan ruling, so you can't get players on loan any more unless you pay them what they're getting paid in Europe” (SMH, 12/29).
