A-Leagues club Melbourne City have been slammed for their decision not to release Curtis Good for Socceroos duty this week.
Australia face Japan in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday night in Sydney with only a win enough to ensure they could still progress directly to Qatar and avoid the play-offs.
Graham Arnold's squad has been hampered by injuries and Covid-related issues in the build-up with the Socceroos forced into a number of last-minute player changes.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that Australia attempted to call-up centre-back Good for national team duty this week but his club Melbourne City refused their request.
As noted by former Socceroo Mark Bosnich, City were entitled to take their stance with the defender previously not listed as a possible selection.
"So apparently the rule is a provisional squad is sent a couple weeks beforehand to all the clubs so they know which players could and could not be used," Bosnich said on SEN's The Global Game.
"The rule is, if you're not named in that squad and there's a certain number of players from your team already in the national squad, you're well within your rights to keep that player."
Bosnich also suggested that City tried to reschedule some of their upcoming A-League Men matches to possibly allow Good to go but were unsuccessful.
With World Cup qualification on the line, Australian football fans haven't taken the news of Good's situation too well and believe City should have put the national team's interests first.
This is unacceptable City Football Group. We give you the benefit of the Covid excuse when it comes to the shambles of this #ALeague season, but this is an arrogant disregard for our football. https://t.co/qYBenXM26Q
— Bonita Mersiades 💉💉💉 (@bonitamersiades) March 22, 2022
Is it a coincidence that UAE is 3rd in the other group?
As a member, I am pretty disappointed @MelbourneCity have not released Curtis Good. Whilst #ThisIsOurCity we live in this country & last time I looked the @Socceroos are the pinnacle of football for players & fans in Australia. I hope its not too late to do the right thing.
— Philip Dalidakis (@philipdalidakis) March 22, 2022
Terrible that a club takes the opportunity away from him, reminds me of the golden generation days when we had @Socceroos players playing in the top leagues and they always got “injured” This is not a decision by @MelbourneCity which is made for the good of the game in Australia
— Cubes (@cubes67) March 22, 2022
@MelbourneCity acting as the enemy of football in Australia. Acting entirely out of narcissistic self-interest & complete & utter disregard for the success & health of the game nationally! #MelbourneCity #Socceroo #Socceroos #WorldCup2022 #CitySucks pic.twitter.com/lqb0QkFD98
— Redmund (@AlanJonesSucks) March 22, 2022
Club vs Country there is no debate. Yes it's an embarrassing situation where the league doesn't have an international break but its more embarrassing supporters of Melbourne City are defending their clubs stance. #Socceroos
— David Hards (@hardsy05) March 22, 2022
Melbourne City notably already have four of their players in the current Socceroos squad and are due to play two league games over the next week.
Football Australia were reportedly unhappy with the club's stance on Good with Arnold ultimately calling up Sydney FC veteran Alex Wilkinson instead.
