A heated rivarlry boils over | (Credit: Getty Images) A heated rivarlry boils over | (Credit: Getty Images)

Sport thrives on rivalries and Sydney v Brisbane is one of the most intense ones in Australia.  Be it Rugby League, Rugby Union or A-League.  In women's football, they have always been the biggest two states, providing the bulk of the national team.  It has generally been a genial one but on Sunday that rivalry erupted.  

The full situation is best explained in this video from the Sydney's The Daily Telegraph.

The Arsenal scenario is, and was, never going to happen.  Sydney have said their piece, Brisbane have declined to make a comment.  Anyone who has played the game can sympathise with Sydney's grievance and a some have said they understand Brisbane's position.

I genuinely like and respect both sets of players and it's disappointing that this is the focus considering what an excellent game it was (match report here). Sydney played very well and had their chances to win (Simon's poster header, Foord in extra time) and Brisbane hung in there when they were threatened to be blown away.

As the women's game moves towards, hopefully complete, professionalism and more becomes on the line, we will see more contentious incidents (Remember Erica in that quarter final between the USA and Brazil?).  Our game will face the same questions the men's game has.