Harry Kewell and the governing body of local soccer Football Federation Australia are set to clash over Kewell's personal deal with Ford Performance Vehicles.
Kewell, who will play for Melbourne Victory in this year's Hyundai A-League, was at Phillip Island's L&H 500 yesterday where he was announced as brand ambassador for Ford's high-performance road car off-shoot Ford Performance Vehicles.
Kewell toom a ride with Will Davison in the Trading Post Ford Performance Racing Falcon around the Island circuit.
Melbourne's The Age reports today that the deal has angered the A-League, who have enjoyed major sponsorship from Hyundai for the past six years.
Football Federation boss Ben Buckley says that the integrity of his sport is at risk.
”I have been informed by Bernie Mandic (Kewell's manager) that Harry has and is contemplating entering into arrangements with competitors of our major sponsors,” Buckley told The Age.
”It's vital that the integrity of our commercial partners is maintained for the benefit of all players in the competition and the benefit of all clubs and the game more broadly.”
CLICK HERE for Michael Lynch's complete story in The Age on Harry Kewell's deal with FPV and the reaction.