3 minute read

Brisbane Roar say they had "no option" but to terminate the contract of Corey Brown due to misconduct after criticism from Professional Footballers Australia.

Brisbane Roar have defended themselves after the A-League Men club was criticised for releasing a statement announcing the termination of defender Corey Brown's contract.

The confirmed Brown's exit in a two-paragraph statement on Thursday, which was labelled "misleading and bizarre" in response by Professional Footballers Australia (PFA).

The players' union said Brown's contract still stands as he has initiated judicial proceedings disputing his termination.

"This is something the club, deliberately or otherwise, is failing to understand," PFA co-chief executive Beau Busch said in a statement.

"As the club continues to operate well below the expected standards of a professional football club, the PFA's primary focus remains on protecting Corey's wellbeing - something the club seems to have little regard for."

Late on Friday the Roar hit back, saying Brown had been terminated due to an incident of "serious misconduct" and the particulars of that incident had been forwarded in full to the PFA.

"The reasons for Corey's termination have been unequivocally communicated to the PFA," the club said.

"However, the PFA and the club have opposed positions regarding the consequences that flow from the factual basis for the termination.

"If the PFA wishes to agitate those issues in the public domain, the club is happy to have these issues ventilated to allow its members and supporters to decide how the club has dealt with this issue."

It's understood the matter is set to go before Football Australia's national dispute resolution chamber.

The Roar is no stranger to legal disputes with former players and staff.

In 2021 the Roar were ordered to pay an insurance payout of nearly $370,000 to former Socceroo Brett Holman after a court ruled a payment received following a career-ending knee injury should have gone to the player and not the club.

A year before that ruling, FIFA's dispute resolution chamber upheld Robbie Fowler's claim he was wrongfully dismissed by the club as head coach in June 2020, leading to a reported six-figure payout in favour of the Liverpool great.