Western Sydney Wanderers appear to have successfully lobbied to get the home leg of their Asian Champions League final played in Parramatta despite the Asian Football Confederation's concerns about the venue.
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The venue is yet to be confirmed, but Fairfax Media understands that the Wanderers will face Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal in the first leg of the continental decider at Pirtek Stadium on October 25.
The Wanderers still have to convince the AFC that the venue is capable of holding VIP guests - potentially including members of the Saudi royal family and media - and that the corporate facilities can meet heightened requirements.
While the Wanderers are pressuring Asian football's governing body to keep the game in Parramatta, the larger venues of Sydney FC's home ground, Allianz Stadium in Moore Park as well as ANZ Stadium in Olympic Park would be considered as alternatives. It is understood the Wanderers are working to meet the AFC's regulations for a larger media and VIP tribune at Parramatta Stadium as well as accommodating what could be an unprecedented number of corporate guests.
Should the match be played away from Parramatta, it's understood their preference will be the 83,000 seater ANZ Stadium due to its closer proximity with the western suburbs of Sydney. But Wanderers chief executive, John Tsatsimas, reiterated his commitment to playing the match at their regular home ground as per the wishes of most supporters.
"We maintain that we want the final to be played at Parramatta. It's where we played our first match of the tournament and it will be fitting if the final was played there. Also, it represents our commitment to the region of Western Sydney," Tsatsimas said.
The Wanderers' run to the Asian Champions League final was secured with a gritty 2-0 home win over FC Seoul on Wednesday night which will also force a reschedule of their domestic commitments. The two legs of the final will be played on Saturday October 25 and then a week later on November 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which clashes with two A-League fixtures.
The Wanderers will move their home games against Central Coast Mariners on October 25 and Brisbane Roar on November 1 to later midweek dates. Details are yet to be confirmed but the Wanderers requested both games be played after the second leg of their ACL final to allow the club to fully concentrate on the decider.
