Perth Glory's "hopes of a first A-League title may be dashed" after Football Federation Australia issued the club a "second show-cause notice for a serious breach" of the salary cap, according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. It is understood FFA will "allege the Glory deliberately exceeded the A-League salary cap limit" by approximately A$150,000 ($114,000) by "paying a player through a third party for the entire season." The fresh accusations could "derail the club's hopes" of playing in the finals series, with Perth facing the prospect of heavy fines and a possible points deduction should it be found guilty of "systematically cheating the cap." Sources close to the investigation suggest at least A$150,000 of striker Andy Keogh's salary was "paid into a bank account held by a family member, listing the transactions as payments relating to a Perth fashion festival." The total value of Keogh's salary is believed to be between A$300,000 ($228,000) and A$350,000 ($266,000) a season, yet it is "understood the club recorded his salary" as A$150,000 in its reportings to FFA. Perth Glory was already spending close to the salary cap limit of A$2.5M ($2M) a season, deeming the alleged additional payments as a "significant breach of the limit" (SMH, 4/1).
