A-League Side Sydney FC Angry About Re-Branding Of Sky Blue Melbourne Heart

A-League side Sydney FC "are up in arms about the proposed rebranding of Melbourne Heart" in line with club owners Man City, protesting that "there is only room for one A-League team playing in sky blue," according to REUTERS. Two-time champion Sydney has played in sky blue, the state color of New South Wales, for 10 years, while Heart has "played in red and white stripes" since it entered the league in '10. Man City led the consortium which bought Heart in January and is "expected to change the club's name after registering the business name Melbourne City FC with the local authorities and buying the domain name MelbourneCityFC.com.au." Sydney FC Chair Scott Barlow said, "In a competition with only 10 teams, the idea of two teams wearing sky blue is nonsensical especially when sky blue is so closely associated with NSW. I believe it's critical to the integrity of the A-League that clubs have identities that are also in representation of where they come from" (ABC, 4/15).