Andy Keogh at centre of Australian football salary scandal

Ireland international Andy Keogh is at the centre of a controversy about salary payments in Australian football.

His club Perth Glory have been been banned from the A-League play-offs despite qualifying with a number of games to spare. The ban was as a result of a breach of the Football Federation Australia (FFA) salary cap regulations.

It has now emerged that Keogh is one of the most high profile recipients of the payments in question.

The Australian Herald Sun reports that the striker agreed a salary of $700,000AUD for two years when he joined the club in May 2014.

This deal put the club close to the limit of their salary cap, but they went on to sign several more players.

In order to appear to comply with regulations, the club listed Keogh’s salary as $160,000AUD and made up the balance of the salary through car rentals and payments to members of Keogh’s family.

It is understood that Keogh was not told about the unusual payment methods until after he moved to Australia and that he was not aware at any stage of any illegality in the payments.

At least six other Perth Glory players are believed to have received payments that were not declared to the FFA.

Perth Glory have confirmed their intention to appeal the FFA decision.

NEWS | Perth Glory will appeal against @FFA decision. Details here http://t.co/NlYRyYrsch pic.twitter.com/DWQaqExdxE

— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) April 13, 2015