Aussie A-League seeks to plug Asian talent drain with additional 'marquee'

MELBOURNE: Australia's soccer players' union wants an "Asian marquee player" category added to existing A-League salary caps to stem the drain of talent to cash-rich Asian clubs.

Wary that soaring player wages could drag the fledgling league into debt, administrators currently restrict clubs to an annual cap of about A$2 million with gradual yearly increases.

The league already allows clubs to nominate a "marquee" player and "junior marquee" under-23 player to be paid outside the salary cap.