Sage blasts FFA’s finals cash grab

PERTH Glory owner Tony Sage has hit out at FFA scheduling next Sunday’s A-League grand final at Perth Stadium, claiming it is a cash grab.

Glory beat Adelaide United in a penalty shootout at HBF Park on Friday night to make its first championship final in seven years, but Sage said Glory loses its home-ground advantage.

He says having the game at Perth Stadium will be good for the sport, with a crowd expected to hit about 40,000, rather than at Glory’s 20,500 home.

“The FFA want to maximise revenue for themselves. They don’t care what the clubs think,” Sage said. “We should get a portion of the ticket sales. The FFA get all the ticketing and we are allowed to do some corporate things.”

He is also angry FFA returned 1100 complimentary tickets not taken up by sponsors, claiming it prevented Glory from further beating its HBF Park record. A crowd of 17,868 – 12 more than this season’s record against Melbourne Victory – watched Glory win.

“FFA also stuffed things up with tickets,” Sage said.

“They give 1800 complimentary tickets out to their sponsors. On Thursday 1100 came back unused. How could they all be sold in that time?

“They were in good spots, so if you saw little empty pockets that’s the reason why.”