Planning underway for A-League promotion and relegation system
By Liam FitzGibbon, 31 May 2008 Liam FitzGibbon is a Roar Pro
Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley says plans for the implementation of a promotion and relegation system for the A-League will be in place by October this year.
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FFA chairman Frank Lowy last week revealed the FFA were looking to introduce the system to strengthen Australia’s ranking in Asia and enhance its prospects of hosting a World Cup.
With the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA putting pressure on the league to introduce a multi-tier system, Buckley confirmed today FFA had informed the AFC it would have plans in place within the next five months.
“We said to the AFC we would get back to them by October this year as to what our plan is via promotion-relegation,” Buckley said today.
“They understand our situation and they’ve accepted that we will have a plan in place by October this year and that will be for an implementation for a promotion-relegation system, not at this point in time but for some years to come.
“… It’s something that will be assessed over time.
“After we’ve got through the next phase of expansion then we’ll be looking to a promotion and relegation system.”
Promotion and relegation was a hot topic at today’s FIFA Congress in Sydney, where world football’s governing body approved changes to laws ensuring that teams could only be promoted and relegated on the basis of their sporting achievements, not monetary issues.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said these laws would apply to all new leagues, including a second-tier league in Australia when it is created.
“The decision we made today does not affect the existing leagues but it will be a strong indication to these leagues to adapt to this principal,” Blatter said.
“And here in Australia, when I spoke with the leaders of football, they said they will introduce a second league.”
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BuzZ said | June 2nd 2008 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
I can understand the drive for a promotion/relegation system here with Australia preparing its bid for the 2018 World Cup, but surely this is a case of putting the cart before the horse. We can harp on about the growth of the A-League and support for the world game in Australia, but the margins of A-League clubs are not wide and the strengthening of the league is dependent on growth from all states and regions.
How much would league, and more broadly the growth of football, suffer if the first teams to be relegated were Perth Glory and Wellington while the teams promoted were South Melbourne and Melbourne Knights.
I’m sure I’ll get chastised by the large number of football purists that frequent this website, but I think a promotion/relegation system in Australian football is a long way off. Perhaps further into the future than the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Midfielder said | June 2nd 2008 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Buzz
I think they need the structure in place, and a positive plan moving forward, essentially key indicators would need to be reached. In handled well will be a blessing as will provide a map for the future expansion.
Fred the Brazilliaannn said | June 26th 2008 @ 2:05am | Report comment
P&R in Australian soccer? what a joke. The sport struggles to finance itself and now some FIFA egghead wants a second-tier league.
PommyAussie said | June 27th 2008 @ 8:27am | Report comment
I can understand why FIFA and the FFA want a P&R system but i agree that the teams coming up and the teams going down are worlds apart, however i do think that it will encourage a more fervent fan base, it’s easy to support a team that never goes anywhere and has no risk of doing so but put in the risk of relegation and that is when the loyalty of supporters will really be seen, it might also be the death knell for some though with loss of finances and lack of interest.
What i think would be a good idea is an FA style cup, there are few things better than a one off game that is a giant killing, i think that this will promote football in Australia much more than promotion and relegation.