Heidelberg United’s dream of competing in next season’s AFC Champions League Two competition is over.
As expected, the NPL Victoria club has been ruled ineligible by the Asian Football Confederation to compete in the competition.
That’s despite the Bergers having satisfied the “mandatory criteria” in Football Australia’s national club licensing regulations for AFC club licensing purposes.
Heidelberg hoped to compete in the AFC Champions League Two after finishing runners-up to A-League club Newcastle in the Australia Cup.
With Newcastle also having won the A-League premiership, which secured the Jets a place in the AFC Champions League Elite competition, the Champions League Two spot became vacant.
However, Heidelberg’s bid for entry failed, due largely to the club not having won the Australia Cup.
Instead, Melbourne Victory, who finished fourth on the A-League ladder, will take the Champions League Two spot.
Adelaide United. who finished second on the ladder, will join the Jets and Victory in Asia, with a playoff to determine whether the Reds are part of Champions League Elite or Champions League Two.
Auckland FC, who placed third on the A-League table, is ineligible to compete in Asian competition due to being based in New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
“We understand this will be a disappointing outcome for everyone connected to Heidelberg United,” FA executive director of football Heather Garriock said.
“The club earned enormous respect through its performances this season and should be proud of what it achieved both on and off the pitch.
“Football Australia advocated that the ACL Two slot be awarded to the runner-up of the Australia Cup, in the rare occasion that the winner of the A-League season is the same as the winner of the Australia Cup.
“We respect and accept the outcome of AFC’s review and congratulate all the teams representing Australia in the AFC Champions League next season.”
