FFA CEO Urges Critics To Reserve Judgment On Bolt Deal

Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop "urged critics to reserve judgment on Usain Bolt's potential foray into the A-League" until the former sprinter "gets a chance to show his wares on the field," according to Ben Horne of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. FFA "has so far refused to play any role in luring Bolt out for a trial" with the Central Coast Mariners. Gallop said that all parties understand FFA will "not be getting involved" until an A-League playing contract for Bolt is "actually tabled." Gallop is "buoyed by the unprecedented global exposure on offer," but made it clear FFA would be shaping its position "not on the marketing dollars, but on whether Bolt was to actually prove himself with the ball at his feet and the scouts watching." Gallop: "It's an exciting prospect if the trial was to be successful, etc., etc., but all of that is in the future at the moment" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 7/20).