Western United FC, the A-League 2022 champions, has had its licence to compete in both the A-League Men and Women competitions withdrawn by Football Australia’s independent First Instance Board—a decision made effective immediately on 8 August 2025.
The club’s downfall is attributed to severe financial instability and repeated breaches of regulatory criteria.
During the 2023-24 financial year, Western United reported an $11 million loss, with liabilities exceeding assets by over $55 million, culminating in a debt exceeding $16 million.
Adding to the turmoil, Western United has been slapped with a FIFA-imposed player registration ban—preventing it from signing new players until early 2027—due to unresolved financial disputes with former striker Aleksandar Prijovic.
On 22 May 2025, both the men’s and women’s squads were served breach notices for unpaid wages and superannuation, with the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) stepping in to support affected players. Despite these mounting issues, the club announced in early May that KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of the US-based KAM Sports group, would acquire a majority stake—investing up to $100 million and pledging a 15,000-seat stadium in Tarneit. However, the sale remains pending approval, given incomplete documentation.
Following the licence withdrawal, Western United—reaching A-League finals as recently as the 2024–25 season—has announced it will appeal the decision immediately.
“Western United Football Club is bitterly disappointed by the decision taken by Football Australia (FA) and the First Instance Body (FIB) today.
The Club will be exercising its right to appeal the decision immediately, with confidence of a positive outcome as the sale of the Club and injection of capital from KAM Melbourne continues to progress.
We wish to assure every single member, supporter and the broader Australian football public that we will fight for our Club with the same spirit, belief and resilience that has defined us from the very beginning. We will continue to stand together as we have done in the face of adversity in the past, and we will exhaust every avenue to continue being able to represent our community with pride”.
Official Statement from Western United FC Management
The decision has sparked disappointment among fans—especially in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Many worry about the impact on local youth pathways and the broader footballing community, with the potential collapse threatening the region’s only professional club.
Wyndham City Council, which co-owns the proposed stadium site, stated ratepayers remain protected by robust contractual agreements, though the future of the stadium project is now under question pending the appeal’s outcome.
Ultimately, Western United’s expulsion underscores the rigorous licensing regime enforced by Football Australia—a regime grounded in financial prudence, operational stability, and competitive integrity. Their situation acts as a stark reminder of the precarities faced by clubs in balancing ambition with sustainability in Australian football.
