Former Australian midfielder Sally Shipard is unlikely to be cleared to play in the W-League this season and Canberra United is concerned she may be lost to the sport altogether.
Shipard has been sitting on the sidelines for the first five weeks of the competition waiting for a clearance from Barcelona FC, a club she had initially agreed to play futsal for in Spain.
After deciding to stay in Australia and play with Canberra United, the clearance Shipard needs has not been granted.
Football Federation Australia's head of women's football, Leeanne Grantham, this week said that it appeared unlikely Shipard would play this season as her case is now with FIFA's player status review committee.
The FFA sent a letter to FIFA on Tuesday, after a month and a half of negotiations failed to make any ground with Barcelona FC, which blocked her international transfer.