Kisnorbo hits back at 'killing the game' critics over Akon World Cup saga

Sydney FC coach defends U-turn as teenage star cleared for Qatar after injury crisis forced initial block

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Updated23 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources4 outlets

Sydney FC coach Patrick Kisnorbo has launched a strong defence of the club's actions in the Akol Akon World Cup dispute, accusing critics of 'killing the game' after an agreement was reached to release the 17-year-old for next month's FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar. Kisnorbo detailed the injury crisis that prompted the initial block and hit out at columnists who labelled the club's stance a 'disgrace' and 'pathetic'.

Akol Akon is now available for selection in Australia's squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar after Sydney FC reached an agreement with Football Australia, reversing their initial decision to prevent his release.

Patrick Kisnorbo, the Sky Blues' coach, revealed the club had been working behind the scenes for several weeks to find a solution. He pointed to an ankle injury to fellow winger Abel Walatee and an injury to midfielder Jake Hollman as leaving him with a dangerously thin squad for the opening weeks of the new A-League season. Kisnorbo said he explained the situation to Akon, who had become too important to the team to lose at that moment.

However, the coach was incensed that the dispute became public while discussions were ongoing. He singled out News Corp columnist Robbie Slater and former FA technical boss Ron Smith, who had described Sydney's position as a 'disgrace' and 'pathetic' respectively.

'I hear these words, and they're big words, in my opinion,' Kisnorbo said. 'There's a lot of people that I think talk a little bit too much ... People say, "Yeah, we want the game to do well". Well, I think they're the ones really killing our game because it's noise and narrative without knowing facts.'

The dispute highlights a broader structural issue in Australian soccer. An agreement between Football Australia and the Australian Professional Leagues covering player availability for national teams has lapsed. This leaves A-League clubs with the power to stop players being called up for tournaments, like the Under-17 World Cup, that fall outside FIFA's international windows.

Kisnorbo argued that the modern A-League is increasingly reliant on young players. 'If we let the under-23s go today, we would lose six players,' he said. 'So what do you want to do, get the under-13s in? We have to find solutions. That's the way the league is at the moment.'

Australia under-17s coach Carl Veart was praised by Kisnorbo for being 'very understanding' and working with the club to find a resolution. Akon, who has already secured a multi-million transfer to Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids, continues to be monitored for a potential Socceroos call-up by Tony Popovic.

Analysis

Why This Matters

This dispute underscores the escalating tension between A-League clubs and Football Australia over player release for international youth tournaments outside FIFA windows.
It raises questions about the A-League's reliance on teenage talent to fill senior squad roles and the pressures this places on player development pathways.
The resolution, while positive for the player, may serve as a template or a warning for future club-versus-country standoffs in Australian soccer.

Background

The clash between Sydney FC and Football Australia highlights a recurring fault line in Australian soccer. An agreement covering player availability for national teams between FA and the Australian Professional Leagues has lapsed. This means clubs are not obliged to release players for events like the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which falls outside official FIFA international windows. This structural gap creates difficult decisions for clubs balancing competitive season starts with the nation's developmental goals.

Key Perspectives

Patrick Kisnorbo / Sydney FC: Argues the club was forced into a difficult position by a genuine injury crisis that left the squad dangerously thin. He claims the club was working on a solution behind the scenes and takes issue with public figures who condemned the decision without knowing the full facts, accusing them of harming the sport. Critics (Robbie Slater, Ron Smith): Publicly characterised Sydney FC's initial refusal to release Akon as a 'disgrace' and 'pathetic', arguing that a national team call-up, especially a World Cup for a teenager, should take precedence over club interests, and that blocking it is harmful to the development of the sport and the player. Football Australia / Carl Veart: Described by Kisnorbo as 'very understanding' and willing to work towards a compromise, reflecting the governing body's need to balance fostering talent and maintaining functional relationships with the clubs that develop it.

What to Watch

Whether FA and the APL can negotiate a new player-release agreement to prevent similar disputes in the future.
Akon's performance at the World Cup in Qatar and his upcoming transition to MLS side Colorado Rapids.
How other A-League clubs manage squad depth given the reliance on young players and future international call-ups.

Sources

‘Killing the game’: Kisnorbo unloads over Akon’s U17 World Cup controversy · WA Today - Latest News
‘Killing the game’: Kisnorbo unloads over Akon’s U17 World Cup controversy · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
‘Killing the game’: Kisnorbo unloads over Akon’s U17 World Cup controversy · Brisbane Times - Latest News
‘Killing the game’: Kisnorbo unloads over Akon’s U17 World Cup controversy · The Age - Latest News

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedKisnorbo accused critics of “killing the game” over the Akon dispute.WA Today - Latest News: ““People say, ‘Yeah, we want the game to do well’. Well, I think they’re the ones really killing our game because it’s noise and narrative without knowing facts.””
SupportedSydney FC agreed to release Akon, making him available for selection in Australia’s squad for next month’s Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.WA Today - Latest News: “Akon, 17, will now be available to be selected in Australia’s squad for next month’s tournament in Qatar after Sydney reached an agreement with Football Australia”
SupportedAn injury to Walatee and another to Hollman prompted Sydney’s initial position on Akon’s release.WA Today - Latest News: “detailing the injury crisis which had prompted their original stance. An ankle injury to Abel Walatee, a winger like Akon, and another injury to midfielder Jake Hollman had left Kisnorbo with a thin squad”
SupportedKisnorbo said critics’ words were “big words” and that people were talking too much.WA Today - Latest News: ““I hear these words, and they’re big words, in my opinion,” Kisnorbo said. “There’s a lot of people that I think talk a little bit too much ...”
Partly supportedThe injuries left Kisnorbo with a dangerously thin squad.WA Today - Latest News: “had left Kisnorbo with a thin squad for the opening weeks of the new season.”
Partly supportedSlater and Smith were both columnists who called Sydney’s position a “disgrace” and “pathetic,” respectively.WA Today - Latest News: “hitting out at News Corp columnist Robbie Slater and former FA technical boss Ron Smith, who described Sydney’s position as a “disgrace” and “pathetic” respectively”
SupportedKisnorbo said the club had been working behind the scenes for several weeks to find a solution.WA Today - Latest News: “It is an outcome Kisnorbo said the club had been working behind the scenes to achieve for several weeks”
SupportedAn agreement between Football Australia and the APL on national-team player availability had lapsed, leaving A-League clubs able to withhold players for events outside FIFA windows.WA Today - Latest News: “An agreement between FA and the Australian Professional Leagues about player availability for national teams has lapsed, leaving A-League clubs with the ability to stop players from being called up for matches or tournaments which fall outside of FIFA international windows”
SupportedKisnorbo said releasing the under-23s would cost the club six players and asked whether it should bring in under-13s instead.WA Today - Latest News: ““The A-League has changed. If we let the under-23s go today, we would lose six players,” he said. “So what do you want to do, get the under-13s in? We have to find solutions. That’s the way the league is at the moment.””
SupportedKisnorbo praised Australia under-17s coach Carl Veart as “very understanding.”WA Today - Latest News: “Kisnorbo praised Australia under-17s coach Carl Veart for being “very understanding””
SupportedAkon had secured a multi-million transfer to Colorado Rapids and was being monitored for a possible Socceroos call-up by Tony Popovic.WA Today - Latest News: “Akon has already secured a multi-million transfer to Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids ... while he is also being closely monitored for a Socceroos call-up by Tony Popovic.”