Salisbury United FC, a local soccer club in Adelaide, is under fire for excluding a seven-year-old boy with autism from its team. The boy’s parents, Angela and Birol Sak, allege that the club has not provided any rationale for the decision and has yet to refund the registration fees.
Angela De Crea enrolled her son, Zaid De Crea-Sak, at the club based on a recommendation from Football SA, making sure to disclose Zaid’s neurodiversity to the club ahead of time. Zaid participated in seven training sessions and received positive feedback, with the team manager praising his performance.
However, circumstances changed after a particular training session that led to an incident. When the family attempted to offer additional support for Zaid, the club notified them he could no longer participate. Angela recounted how distressing this was for Zaid, describing a period of grief where he cried extensively over the loss.
Adding to the family’s distress, three months have passed without a refund for Zaid’s registration fee. Salisbury United has not responded to interview requests from 9News, while Football SA issued a general statement praising the club’s conduct, regretting that the family could not collaborate with the club for a better outcome.
Birol Sak expressed concern that the club appears to lack understanding of the impact their actions had on Zaid, who feels wrongly blamed and has been left to cope with the emotional ramifications. Angela is exploring legal options but primarily hopes to see Zaid return to playing the sport he loves, challenging the notion that team sports are unsuitable for children with special needs.
With the situation still unresolved, the De Crea-Sak family continue to advocate for Zaid’s right to participate in soccer, highlighting the importance of inclusion in team sports for all children.