Baller League AWOL response is baffling – followers slamming Wealdstone’s anger are silly

National League outfit Wealdstone have taken the most lenient approach to one of their stars going AWOL for Baller League – and the response shows exactly why fans are bitter

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National League side Wealdstone travelled the 538-mile journey to Gateshead on Tuesday night looking to keep their faint play-off hopes alive.

But Gary Waddock’s team fell to defeat without attacking midfielder Sak Hassan, who farcically decided playing Baller League on Monday night would be absolutely fine. The 24-year-old Somalia international has played 23 times for the Stones in the league this season, and unsurprisingly looks to have played his last.

Despite being at a full-time professional club in step five, the former Hashtag United player showed no respect to his team and went behind their back to feature for KSI’s Prime FC. The same man who openly suggested on Sky Sports that he has spoken to Hassan about signing for Dagenham & Redbridge, the sixth-tier side he recently purchased.

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Players in the Baller League can earn significantly upwards of £400-per-game. Fair enough, they have a life and family to look after. But doing so at the expense of your employers would not be tolerated in any working environment. Wealdstone announced on Monday night they were unaware Hassan would be playing in the Baller League and had not been approached for permission.

“We are aware that Sak Hassan, under contract with Wealdstone FC, appeared in this evening’s Baller League,” a club statement said. “The club was not approached for permission for Sak to participate, nor were we made aware of his involvement in advance.

“We will now be following up with both the Baller League and the player directly. No further comment will be made until those discussions have taken place.”

Wealdstone have since followed up by stating that Hassan is unlikely to play again this season. Meaning he’s set to play no further part in their FA Trophy journey with the Stones potentially one game away from Wembley as they take on National League North Marine in the semi-final.

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The club chairman Rory Fitzgerald has since explained in another post: “Sak and his representatives are aware he’s in breach of his playing contract by choosing to feature in the Baller League.”

Before the statement read: “Stones’ manager Waddock has confirmed he does not expect 24-year-old Hassan to be part of the team’s plans between now and the end of the campaign.”

Being omitted from the squad is as lenient a punishment that Hassan, or anyone could reasonably expect in this situation, with some fans and users calling for the club to terminate his contract.

However, baffling arguments that Wealdstone were in the wrong for not being content that a player they pay and employ on a contractual basis, risking injury and fitness by playing in a six-a-side tournament the night before a game, are incomprehensible.

One clueless user echoed the voices of other numb-minded accounts by saying: “These football clubs are repulsive. A lad is playing a 5 aside game and he gets his entire season ruined just because of a little extra money.”

While one non-league fan easily explained: “I’m almost dumbfounded by the comments. Did he have a contract (yes). Did he break the contract (yes). Are Wealdstone entitled to be p***** off (yes)…for me, case closed your honour.”

And another echoed: “Wealdstone have done the right thing, cant be having a player prioritising a kick around cause of some influencers, some people need to live in the real world!”

Wealdstone ultimately fell to defeat to fourth-from-bottom Gateshead as Hassan’s team-mates slogged their way back down from the north-east without his help to keep their play-off dreams alive.

The proud club of Wealdstone were put second to a six-a-side kick-about with influencers. And you can bet that it won’t be the last instance as well.