Football Federation Australia have denied that any players suffered heat-stroke in the Wellington Phoenix 2-all draw at Adelaide last night.
Wellington Phoenix striker Roy Krishna celebrates a goal. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Phoenix have called on the A-League to review its temperature policy after coach Chris Greenacre said two players fell ill with heat-stroke during the match.
Greenacre says they asked for kick-off to be delayed but were denied.
The FFA this afternoon released a statement.
"All Hyundai A-League matches are played under the FFA Heat Policy, which is an agreed policy that offers a framework to ensure matches are played well within the world's best practice health and safety standards," said an FFA spokesperson.
"The FFA Heat Policy clearly states that drinks breaks should be implemented if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reaches 26 degrees and there should be consideration of delays and postponement if the WBGT reaches 28. The FFA Heat Policy offers greater consideration to players welfare than the FIFA policy and that of most other sports around the world.
"In line with FFA's Heat Policy both clubs were informed throughout the week of the forecast WBGT for Adelaide on Sunday to ensure the players were professionally prepared.
"The WBGT reading before the match on Sunday in Adelaide was 25.6. Despite this, Head of Hyundai A-League Greg O'Rourke, who was at the match, consulted both Team Doctors and it was agreed to insert drinks breaks into the match as a further sign of FFA's interest in player welfare. This was all agreed and acknowledged by both teams.
"FFA has since been informed by medical staff at the match that no players suffered heat stroke during the match."
The hosts' 18-year-old Riley McGree and Nikola Mileusnic potted their first A-League goals in stifling heat at Coopers Stadium.
McGree scored first before Wellington's Thomas Doyle and Roy Krishna put the visitors on the brink of a valuable away win.
But with 20 minutes remaining, Mileusnic scrambled a tap-in to deny the Phoenix, who would have risen to fifth with a win but find themselves in seventh spot.
Defending champions Adelaide remain last with just two wins, after a match played in oppressive heat topping 38 degrees - there were as many drinks breaks (four, at 15-minute intervals) as goals.
Adelaide took an early lead when McGree scored in the seventh minute with a thundering left-footer from 15 metres after a lay-off from Marc Marino, brought into the side to replace discarded Spanish striker Sergio Guardiola, who has returned to his homeland.
But it took the visitors just four minutes to square the ledger when Doyle made a mockery of Adelaide's defence.
The left-back sliced through four Reds before unleashing a cracking left-footed strike which clipped the inside of the near post before finding the net.
Krishna extended Wellington's lead in the 37th minute after being played in by Kosta Barbarouses in a swift transition.
Roy Krishna in action for the Wellington Phoenix. Photo: PhotoSport
Krishna was marked by Adelaide attacker Henrique but shrugged the attention before calmly sliding the ball past Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and into the net.
Adelaide pressed for an equaliser for much of the second half and were rewarded with Mileusnic's breakthrough goal in the 80th minute - after Ben Garrucio's free kick struck the left post, he scrambled a tap-in from the rebound near the right post.
Adelaide's Cirio could even have pinched the points in the 90th minute when a shot dribbled just wide and the stalemate remained for the 10 minutes of extra- time - the lengthy stoppage time caused by the in-game drinks breaks.
-AAP/RNZ
