Heidelberg United have been denied a dream AFC Champions League Two berth, losing their spot to a coachless Melbourne Victory.
United were deemed ineligible to participate in the intercontinental tournament without reason despite the semi-professional club finishing runners-up in the Australia Cup.
Heidelberg had knocked out three A-League Men sides - Western Sydney, Wellington and Auckland - without conceding a goal to reach the 2025 final.
One win away from becoming the first non top-flight side to win the Australia Cup, their fairytale run ended in a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle.
A door to intercontinental football opened for the Victorian NPL champions when the Jets clinched this year's ALM premiership and booked a spot in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE).
Promised support from Football Australia (FA) in April, Heidelberg satisfied the licensing criteria needed to compete in an AFC competition.
But Heidelberg's bid was blocked by the AFC on Monday, who then awarded the direct slot to Melbourne Victory.
Victory earned the spot despite finishing fourth this ALM season as second-place Adelaide United had already qualified for the ACLE, while third-place Auckland FC are not eligible for Asian competition.
FA football director Heather Garriock acknowledged the decision as upsetting for the Melbourne-based club.
"We understand this will be a disappointing outcome for everyone connected to Heidelberg United FC," Garriock said in a statement.
"The club earned enormous respect through its performances this season and should be proud of what it achieved both on and off the pitch.
"Football Australia advocated that the ACL Two slot be awarded to the runner-up of the Australia Cup, in the rare occasion that the winner of the A-League season is the same as the winner of the Australia Cup.
"We respect and accept the outcome of AFC’s review and congratulate all the teams representing Australia in the AFC Champions League next season."
Victory earned an intercontinental berth just a day after opting against renewing coach Arthur Diles's contract.
After taking the reins initially on an interim basis in late 2024, Diles paid the price after Victory suffered an elimination loss to Sydney FC.
