The messy termination by Newcastle Jets of head coach Branko Culina and marquee midfielder Jason Culina is an issue Football Federation Australia (FFA) say they cannot get involved in.
The pair have been released by the A-League club following a furious spat regarding Jason's knee injury which has gotten to the point of career threatening.
Culina was signed by the Jets from Gold Coast United for $2.5million in the off-season but was already ruled out of the 2011/12 season with a problem he sustained on international duty. The injury was not covered by insurance as it's the same knee he injured when he signed for the Jets.
This means that Newcastle owner Nathan Tinkler would have had to personally pay Culina's wages for the three-year deal but he decided to instead sack both Jason and father Branko.
It has now emerged that the FFA cannot get involved in the matter as it does not fit within their jurisdiction.
"Football Federation Australia (FFA) has today clarified the process of dispute resolution in relation to Jason Culina's playing contract with the Newcastle Jets," read a FFA statement.
"FFA has no authority to set aside a Standard Player Contract (SPC) under current Hyundai A-League regulations.
"Grievances arising in relation to a SPC are subject to arbitration by the independent National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC) established under the Hyundai A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement between FFA and the PFA.
"All parties to the SPC are obliged to submit exclusively to the jurisdiction of the NDRC and agree that the outcome is final and binding."
