Socceroos legend Vince Grella joins Serie D side Catania SSD as Vice-President

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Vince Grella
Image provided by Corriere dello Sport

Socceroos great Vince Grella has joined an Australian-led rebirth of Catania in Italy’s Serie D.

Following a declaration of bankruptcy which led to the expulsion of Catania from Italy’s Serie C, Melbourne-based Pelligra Group bought out the financially-stricken club in Sicily.

With Australian-born Ross Pelligra – who has Sicilian origins – leading the takeover, the former Serie A club were reborn as Catania SSD on Wednesday.

The confirmation of Catania’s new identity included the announcement of ex-Australia and Serie A midfielder Grella as vice-president.

Former Melbourne Heart midfielder Grella, Pelligra and the club will try to work their way up from the fourth tier of Italian football.

“Pelligra Group Pty Ltd announces that at 9.30 today, Wednesday 13 July, the company Catania SSD, with headquarters in Catania – Via Musumeci 171, was established before the notary Stefano Bandieramonte,” a statement read.

“Board of Directors of the newly established amateur sports club Catania SSD: Rosario Pelligra, President; Vincenzo Grella, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Giovanni Caniglia, Director of the Board. Catania SSD will officially request registration for the Serie D 2022-23 football championship.”

Catania have featured in the top flight on 17 occasions with the 2013-14 campaign their last in Serie A. Moreover, the likes of Diego Simeone, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Marco Giampaolo, Vincenzo Montella, Walter Zenga and John Toshack have coached the club.

Ross Pelligra added in a statement released by Catania:

““I am proud, happy and excited. I am joined by highly qualified professionals, who will have to develop a winning program, and the entire city of Catania, whom I publicly thank for their welcome and support.

“The fans offer us support, enthusiasm and that trust that we must always cultivate and never waste.

“Catania belongs to its people: ownership is a very specific social and legal responsibility that I carry with pride.”

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Western United ruled out of 2026–27 A-League season

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Image Credit: Western United FC

Western United’s participation in the A-Leagues has officially been terminated, ending the club’s immediate pathway back into Australia’s professional football competitions.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) terminated Western United’s Club Participation Agreement on Monday, following months of discussions over the club’s future.

The decision comes after Western United’s attempt to secure a return to the A-League for the 2026–27 season was unsuccessful. Football Australia had previously determined that the club did not meet the requirements to retain its licence.

Western United has now turned its attention towards rebuilding the organisation under new ownership, with the club targeting a return to the A-League for the 2027–28 season.

In a statement, Western United said the termination creates an opportunity for “new custodians, new investment and a fresh start”, while emphasising the importance of maintaining the club’s identity in Melbourne’s west.

The club’s financial problems have been a major issue over the past two years with the club being placed into a conditional hibernation ahead of the 2025/26 A-League season.

The APL said its decision was made following the club’s breach of several obligations under the agreement, including compliance with Football Australia’s National Club Licensing Regulations.

The club’s proposed 2027–28 comeback will therefore depend on securing new investment, addressing its outstanding operational requirements and demonstrating that it can meet the conditions necessary to re-enter the A-Leagues.

While Monday’s decision brings an end to Western United’s current participation agreement, the club maintains that it is not the end for Western United.

Now, the club that won the A-League grand final just four years ago, will now turn its attention to restructuring the business and building a sustainable platform for a potential return to Australia’s professional football landscape.

 

 

Football Queensland Welcomes Musco Lighting as Official Lighting Partner

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Image Credit: Musco.com

Football Queensland has welcomed Musco Lighting as its Official Lighting Partner, bringing world-class sports lighting expertise to football clubs and facilities across the state.

The partnership will support Football Queensland clubs as participation continues to grow across the state, helping communities access safer, higher-quality and more accessible football facilities.

Musco Lighting is a global leader in sports lighting, with more than 50 years of experience delivering lighting solutions across sporting venues worldwide. The company was also the first in the world to be certified by FIFA as a Preferred Provider for Floodlight Systems and provided lighting for 12 of the 16 stadiums used at the recent FIFA World Cup.

Through the new partnership, Football Queensland clubs will have access to Musco’s specialist expertise and solutions as they look to improve and develop their lighting infrastructure.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said the partnership represented an important step in supporting the continued growth of football across Queensland.

“I’m proud to see this partnership between Football Queensland and Musco come to life.

“With participation continuing to grow across Queensland, the need for quality football infrastructure has never been greater. This partnership will help our clubs access world-class lighting expertise to create safer, better and more accessible facilities for their communities.

The partnership provides an opportunity to combine Football Queensland’s extensive network across the state’s football community with Musco’s global expertise in sports lighting, supporting clubs as they continue to invest in facilities that meet the needs of their growing participation bases.

Football Queensland and Musco will work together to help clubs identify lighting solutions that can enhance facility quality and accessibility, supporting more opportunities for players and communities to participate in football.

Football Queensland Official Lighting Partner – Musco Lighting

With more than five decades of experience in sports lighting, Musco has delivered projects across some of the world’s most significant sporting venues and events.

The company’s FIFA Preferred Provider certification and involvement in the recent FIFA World Cup further demonstrates its expertise in delivering lighting systems to the highest international standards.

The partnership with Football Queensland will bring this expertise closer to Queensland’s football community, providing clubs with access to a specialist lighting partner as the game continues to grow across the state.

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