By Davidde Corran
October 15th 2009 @ 5:35am
Related coverage
Farina case exposes football’s roar mentality
Sydney, June 29, 2005, Australia's Frank Farina after the confederations cup 2nd leg qualifier between Australia and the Solomon Islands in Sydney on October 12, 2004. Farina has stepped down as Australian soccer coach ending six years as head coach of the Socceroos. He will be replaced on an interim basis by national technical manager Ron Smith. AAP Image/Matthias Engesser
I never get any pleasure out of seeing a coach lose his job. I wasn’t pleased when John Kosmina was sacked from an A-League club for the second time, even though I thought at the time, and still do, that Kosmina’s departure was a good thing for the game.
So bearing that in mind, I was sad to see another coach fall on Wednesday, even if it was onto his own sword. Farina might have been a flawed servant of the game, but overall he was a good one.
Still, he had to go.
It wasn’t just that he was caught drink driving for a second time (a stupid and horrendously dangerous offence), but the fact he was drunk while on his way to Brisbane Roar training.
The stupidity, ignorance and irresponsibility of that action is astounding.
So Farina has paid a fair price. I hope he finally learns from this and I wish him well in his recuperation.
I doubt we’ve seen the last from Farina, though. The coaching circle in Australia is too much of a clique. A further example of that is Farina’s almost certain replacement, Ange Postecoglou.
The former Australian youth team coach has a lot in common with Farina.
Both have had public falling outs with SBS, failed as coaches at national team level, and like his predecessor, Postecoglou will now have a chance at redemption with the Roar.
Personally, I’d rather see a young upcoming local coach like Ante Milicic or Paul Okon given a chance, but fair go to Ange.
If he gets the gig, then I hope he succeeds and learns from his past mistakes. I also hope he makes a return to The World Game with Craig Foster. To quote an old AFL TV advertisement: “I’d like to see that!”
There’s also an opportunity for Football Federation Australia and the Brisbane Roar here to both develop the game’s image and do the right thing.
I’d like to see either the Roar or the game’s national governing body approach the Queensland Traffic Authority about ways to spread the message of “driving safely.”
My biggest concern from the Farina incident, though, is the way football handled, or I should say didn’t handle, the story.
Whenever a dark issue within the game rears it’s ugly head, the football community, including the media, tends to go quiet.
We’re so afraid of the fragile image of the game in the mainstream media being tarnished that we don’t push the point. On some smaller issues, that might seem okay. But it allows too much to go on behind the scenes that is just plain wrong.
We shouldn’t be afraid of the mainstream media anymore and the so called “football haters.” They’ll attack the game no matter what.
In the meantime, we should focus on setting the standards we want from those within the game and the football community.
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midfield general said | October 15th 2009 @ 6:31am | Report comment
Mixed feelings about this one….would most of us lose our jobs over such offence? Does the punishment fit the crime? I don’t know. But I suppose he blew twice the legal limit. In the morning.
Farina had the Roar playing the most attractive football in the league since he took over, but things have been going a bit pear shaped – I see it as his failure to rein in the loutish behaviour of some senior players in the past weeks. Good to have a fresh start, but Ange is not the appointment that will have the Roar fans rushing back to Suncorp.
Pippinu said | October 15th 2009 @ 7:01am | Report comment
I didn’t realise he was actually caught DUI on the way to training – that’s quite unbelievable – and from his employer’s perspective, changes things a bit.
Otherwise, I too thought that the Roar was using this as a pretense to simple get rid of Farina because it suited them.
Rellum said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
For me it was the fact that he was on the way to training in that condition that was the big issue for the club, especially considering all the discipline attitudes that have crept into the team.
I have no confidence in Postecoglou to bring to the Brisbane public a team that is heading into a new professional direction. For me a qualified OS manager is the way the club should be looking, but I assume financial constraints make this a pipe dream at the moment. Still I would rather they stick with Radio and have a good look around before going with someone like Postecoglou.
whiskeymac said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Re: Postecoglou’s pending alleged appointment, what’s his background other than stoushes over olympic teams with Fozzie?
Rellum said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:51am | Report comment
He won to titles with South Melbourne in the late nineties and just had a six month stint with a Greek club.
Freud of Football said | October 15th 2009 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
Must be Top Top drawer then. I mean, 6 months with a Greek club and we’ve got two former Socceroos who had long careers overseas in Ante Milicic and Paul Okon, both of whom we know are excellent tacticians and who quite likely have a future of some sorts in coaching but the job will apparently go to someones mates friend.
If we want football in Australia to actually get better we need to get away from this ridiculous “I’ve got a mate looking for a job” mentality and start looking at what is coming through the ranks, not just what is in the current circle of friends
md said | October 15th 2009 @ 7:47am | Report comment
I think the lesson for all Australian coaches, and players for that matter, is to remember that they are servants of the game. Football owes them nothing; they don’t have real jobs by any definition, they get to play and coach football and make a very good living out of it.
If you get caught drink driving, or committing any other crime, then you must surely forfeit your right to such a privileged circumstance. I’ll occasionally accept an argument that there should be leniency for the very young, but Frank’s hardly that.
Cheers
md
Lmacca said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:42am | Report comment
In terms of getting caught on his way to training, it was the morning after a night out. Not excusing what he did, just explaining.
whiskeymac said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Aye. lots of people turn upto work with “hangovers”…
whiskeymac said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
I agree that trying to compare the level of integrity expected to be upheld by a coach (in any sport) and a “civilian” is generally not appropriate, especially when considerations of public image etc are put into the mix. Manager’s aren’t just judged on results. Can think of Hoddle’s dismissal, and Kossies from Adelaide as examples of this.
However, being drunk at work (which maybe he would have been if not caught) is a no-no in many walks of life and am sure would invoke disciplinary action, including suspension or termination, from most employers. Harsh price to pay in some respects, but as MD points out manager’s have a privileged career in many respects, albeit a volatile one. Boards dont normally wait for a reason to sack if they want change (SFC….), but from a PR point of view it shifts the blame nicely onto a scapegoat (justified or not).
Pippinu said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Lmacca
thank for the clarification, but agree with whiskey, you don’t turn up drunk to work, regardless of when you were putting away the sherbets.
Having said that, I would much prefer to see Farina remain involved in the A-League.
Chook said | October 15th 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
if you are a leader you set the example, he isnt a kid , hes has been responsible for Australia top side.
the whole attitude for a club come from the coach. look at any sport and any successful club. The under lying fact is that the coach behaves himself on an off the field. ( NRL Jason Taylor, Brad Fitler ) neither team did really well.
The Bear said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
The week of a very important game (Roar have been slipping for a few weeks now)…and against your derby team, with a lot fresh faces in the game day squad. And he got toasted the night before the game??? Surely save it to the night AFTER the game, WHEN you win it. No sympathy Frank.
whiskeymac said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Agree – Frank has al ot to offer still – a good eye for spotting talent too when looking at his Roo and HAL teams and generally has his teams playing good attacking games – with more teams coming in etc hopefully he’ll get a chance somewhere else.
Lmacca said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in the frame for Sydney Rovers FC. A year out of the spotlight and spending a long time in the Hall of Mirrors to have a good hard look at himself, then down to Sydney. He’s still proven himself to be a good coach, whose teams play good football.
I agree with the sentiments about alcohol, by the way, and that he’d been given a seconfd chance already by the club. But that shouldn’t end his coaching career.
The Bear said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
Apparently Frank stipulates that it was his first DUI whilst contract to the Roar. See the Red column article posted. Still, in light of the Roar’s challenges and recent degneracy…I’d say it shows a man not having his heart in the job.
Chook said | October 15th 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment
my 2 cents worth Farina is a good coach, looking at the Roars past seasons can hardly be considered a failure.
Farina has had a far better and more expirenced back ground he was the first Australian to play in the Serie A.
I believe that he took the Socceroos and the Brisbane Roar to another level as his time as coach.
It wouldnt suprise me if he pops up again some where on the footballing landscape in some capacity and I wish him best of luck.
For the board of the Roar what are they to do? It was his 2nd time for DD and the Roar have said that they set themselves as role models and examples for the community, with the eye being cast on other sporting codes on off field behaviour it is good that the Roar have distance themselves from this incident. It does set a precident.
On the other hand I do think that Farina was a scapegoat, I was amazed at the speed of Ange introduction and it makes me wonder if they ( the Roar board) hadnt been looking around for another manager for a while.
The Brisbane Roar has a massive job not only on the field but off the field as well.
On field
-Ever growing injury list
- the playing list has a number of very senior players (Charlie Miller cant even play 90mins)
- undiscplined
Off field
- poor crowds
-large debt
- the introduction of GCU
- the media in Brisbane doesnt help ( Courier Mail)
- the stadium costs a packet and they get fined for poor crowds
- senior member tend to drink a little more than would be expected
- there is a attitude problem ( made eveident by Mitch Nicoles being sent home when playing for the under 21s Australian side)
In saying all of this I think there are plenty of fans and people interested in football, we are just waiting for a more organised team and some cofidence that the Brisbane Roar wont fold as a club . I get the feeling that it isnt far away.
side note i would like to see the development of the show grounds to incorperate a 20,000 – 30K seat stadium for football. It has a public trian / bus system heaps of parking, its inner city, near lots of pubs, the 52,000 seat stadium at suncorp feels empty even with 19,000 people in it.
David V. said | October 15th 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
What does a player’s playing career have to do with it? Bryan Robson, Lothar Matthäus, Peter Taylor, John Barnes, Glenn Hoddle to a degree… none of them were sparkling coaches are they?
Chook said | October 15th 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
expirence
constantine said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
courier mail is pretty bad, was wondering why then i saw its news ltd so no surprise then. its the brisbane daily terrorgraph
Chook said | October 16th 2009 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
Remeber New Ltd own the Broncos. So it doesnt help them if football is success in Brisbane.
PS Broncos crowd actually was lower for the 1st time in 8 years
Rellum said | October 15th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26212775-5000940,00.html
Why oh why do they need to ask Moore if he approves of the boss. How is a new manager meant to instill a team ethic and discipline if he is basically been appointed by one of his players. The club continues to lurch backward.
md said | October 15th 2009 @ 11:33am | Report comment
He’s the leader of the playing group; of course you have to get his opinion on it. The idea that club bosses should treat experienced players like children is nonsense. Moore has shown great commitment to the Roar and has earned his right to have a say in the footballing matters relating to the club.
It’s not as though they are bringing in someone who’s massively credentialled and has a record that commands the respect of the playing group (eg Lavicka, Schipp). Ange is probably a good coach, but he’s less qualified than Farina, who had at least coached the Socceroos – ensuring that the playing group is onside with the decision to appoint him will be crucial to it working out.
Rellum said | October 15th 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
In my professional life I have never been asked for my opinion about someone who is being considered for a higher position. The idea would be ludicrous.
If they are thinking about appointing someone who may not command respect from the players then they shouldn’t appoint them.
md said | October 15th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Well – no idea about your professional life, but it happens frequently in all sorts of well run businesses. Not sure that Brisbane Roar fits into that category, but nevertheless…
It occurs to me that this is an intentional leak from the club. They have Moore’s mobile phone number will probably have already got his thoughts. Moore will say that he thinks Ange is a great selection and looks forward to working with him, and there will be fluffy media pieces about their mutual respect and forthcoming partnership. Yadda Yadda.
Phutbol said | October 16th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Yeah, but were you getting paid more than the person above you?….
The Bear said | October 15th 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
I agree. The Roar board have rocks in their head. Or we do, to believe that they asked his “permission”.
cab711 said | October 15th 2009 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
I reckon this is like putting a bandaid on prostate cancer. Ange has no idea what he is stepping into and this could either be his shininig moment, or prove to everyone what we all already suspected. I dont know if its guts, stupidity, money or pride motivating him?
Im quite sure the Roar boys will not be happy with the manner in which this was handled. Makes it even more exciting to see what they do this weekend.
DiCanio said | October 16th 2009 @ 12:00am | Report comment
Ange has been posturing for a coaching job since he took at seat at Fox Sports. You could see him salivating at the prospect on Fox Sports FC during the week
Not a great career move. He doesn’t have the nous to steer the sinking ship.
AndyRoo said | October 16th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
He copped stick for his time in charge of the Youth Teams but he did “ok”, he at least recognised the problem as lack of technique and if you are only getting kids at 16 you can’t do much about it.
Very tough job, i htink you really needed someone highly respected and firm. Can’t really think of anyone in Australia with that reputation.
Mick of Newie said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
In defence of Ange Postecoglu he did take the 2003 young Socceroos into the second round including beating eventual champions Brazil in a group game.
You can tell Moore exerts a lot of influence at the Roar and it would not have surprised me if this had happened 12 months down the track if he had been offered the job.
I expect their will be a bit of a clash of wills with Moore and Ange particularly if Ange trys to offload some of ther senior players at end of season (which would appear to be needed if he wants to change the culture).