Fowler outraged over U23s confusion

BRISBANE coach Robbie Fowler has questioned ALeague player eligibility rules after being forced to omit midfielder Aiden O’Neill from Sunday’s stunning win over Melbourne City.

O’Neill was a conspicuous absentee from the Roar’s match-day squad, with Fowler revealing after the 4-3 win that the club had been told he was ineligible due to being unavailable for Australia’s under-23s.

That was despite City having Lachlan Wales and Nathianiel Atkinson on their bench — two Olyroos regulars who weren’t named in the squad to play a three-game friendly tournament this week in China.

It is understood O’Neill’s omission from the Olyroos’ squad was due to a travel issue.

Wales and Atkinson, as well as Adelaide’s Riley McGree and Perth’s Brandon Wilson, are all under investigation for an alleged incident last March in Cambodia while on Olyroos duty.

None of the four was named in the squad. But it’s unclear if they have simply been overlooked or are ineligible due to the ongoing investigation into their off-field behaviour.

McGree played most of Adelaide’s 3-1 win over Central Coast on Saturday in Gosford and Fowler suggested it wasn’t fair he had to omit O’Neill when others were allowed to play.

“We were told we couldn’t play him because he was meant to be with the 23s,” Fowler said. “I think next time Aiden goes away with the under-23s, I’ll just tell him to misbehave so he can miss future squads and he can play in the A-League.

“We’ve seen a few players playing in the A-League this weekend that shouldn’t have been playing.” The outcry isn’t the first, amid controversy over the A-League’s decision to continue with games during international periods due to fixture issues with the addition of 11th team Western United.