The A-League game between top-of-the-ladder Sydney FC and bottom-of-the-ladder Newcastle Jets on Friday night will go ahead as planned the FFA have confirmed despite fears over the air quality in NSW.

However, the first-leg of the planned double-header at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium has been postponed, with the W-League match between the Jets and Adelaide United to be rescheduled for a later date.

The official A-League twitter account had posted and deleted a tweet on Wednesday saying both games had been cancelled but following a meeting on Thursday morning, it was decided that the Jets-Sydney game will now go ahead.

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The W-League game was scrapped over travel concerns, with Adelaide flying into NSW while Sydney FC are able to just drive up the coast.

The game will now be played on Saturday 1 February.

In a statement, the FFA said: “Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced the decision to postpone the Westfield W-League 2019/20 Season - Round 9 fixture between the Newcastle Jets and Adelaide United. This decision was made last night due to the forecast of a combination of hazardous air quality and high temperatures in the Hunter region this Friday at the scheduled kick-off time of 5:00pm (AEDT) and was necessitated by Adelaide United’s travel plans .

“At this time, the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 14 fixture between the Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC will go ahead as planned. The forecast ambient and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) for that match remain within acceptable ranges for the later kick-off and the Air Quality forecast is improving with the arrival of a wind change to the North East on Friday. As Sydney FC are due to travel by bus up to Newcastle today, FFA was able to delay its decision on the Hyundai A-League Friday night match until this morning.

“In making decisions regarding whether a fixture will proceed, the safety, welfare and comfort of our players, match officials and fans remain our ongoing focus with regard to air quality issues as a result of these bushfires.”

Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna confirmed the game would go ahead on social media on Thursday morning, while a statement from the FFA is expected shortly.

Sky Blues boss Steve Corica also said that his side were preparing for business as usual.

"As far as we know it's going ahead on Friday night so we're preparing as normal to get ready for that match,” he said. “We're waiting on a decision still but we'll just plan as normal until we hear otherwise.”



A Canberra United W-League clash scheduled for last Sunday, January 5 was postponed due to smoke conditions from fires surrounding the ACT.

A number of Foxtel Y-League (youth) matches have been postponed or rescheduled due to heat and hazardous air conditions.

And Western United coach Mark Rudan last weekend said he thought his side’s match against Melbourne City should have been called off.

Games on press release coming out shortly 7.30 pm A league only Friday night — Lawrie McKinna (@LawrieMcKinna) January 8, 2020

Speaking on Fox Sports ahead of the match, he said “I always put the player welfare in front of anything else and when I first came to the ground I thought there was no chance (of the game going ahead).

“I still think it’s hazardous to the players, I’ll be honest with you.

“A few of my players went out for a run and they came in and they couldn’t really breathe all that well. Some of the smoke was stuck in their throats.”

In December, the FFA revealed it was in the process of formalising a policy for air pollution.

“We’ve never needed a policy in this area,” said A-League chief Greg O’Rourke.

“We’re monitoring it very closely, we are building a policy around it, we’re taking advice from experts and we’re liaising with the clubs and the PFA (player’s union).”

The FFA has announced that the next two A-League and W-League rounds will be dedicated to bushfire and drought relief.