Playoff to hurt Roar – Muscat

MELBOURNE Victory coach Kevin Muscat has cast doubts over Brisbane’s ability to prepare and plan for the season because of uncertainty about the length of the Roar’s AFC Champions League commitments.

The Roar must win a playoff on February 7 against a club from either Japan, South Korea or China to secure a spot in next year’s Champions League group stages.

In good news for the Roar, they will host the playoff. However, the match won’t be played at Suncorp Stadium due to it being prepared for that week’s Brisbane Global Tens rugby tournament.

Roar managing director Mark Kingsman said Ballymore would be the preferred option for the playoff ahead of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Nathan.

Kingsman promised the match would not be played at Cbus Super Stadium after a backlash from Roar fans last year when Brisbane hosted Champions League games at the Robina venue after a deal with Gold Coast City Council.

Muscat said it would be easier for Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers – who have guaranteed Champions League group stage places – to prepare their campaigns compared with the Roar.

“Adelaide and Western Sydney are planning with certainty,” Muscat said.

“That’s where Brisbane are in a bit of a predicament … not being able to look forward with the certainty, because they’re only in the playoff at this stage.”