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So last week’s predictions were right – this really has been a big few days for Australian football. For many within the football community, the days since Friday’s 2022 World Cup decision have been filled with soul searching, as countless followers of the game look for answers as to what has gone wrong.
Mired in another of its dark hours, the stage was set for Australian football’s saviour, one Frank Lowy, to came in and save the day.
Some suggested he should dig into his own pockets, others that change was a-foot but all were left disappointed.
The fate of A-League clubs teeter on the brink, the Sydney Rovers have been pulled, recriminations are flying over the 2022 World Cup decision and the hard questions are starting to be asked about Australia’s failed AU$46 million World Cup bid.
So Lowy, despite all his business expertise and experience, decided what the game really needed was a fresh injection of the exact same old stuff and offered under fire CEO Ben Buckley a new contract.
Oh dear!
While I have never called for Buckley’s head and don’t see his continuation as FFA CEO to be Australian football’s version of the four horsemen, I do feel disappointed by Lowy’s response which lacked impetus and conviction.
As I see it, the problem with the way the game is currently being administered in this country is accountability, or the lack of it.
Accountability for Ben Buckley who has disillusioned thousands with his “corporate-speak”.
Accountability for the multi-million dollar bid consultants who promised access to FIFA’s hierarchy and helped shape the bid’s strategic approach only for Australia to garner a solitary vote. )
Accountability for Lowy who instead of facing defeat gracefully like many of his counterparts, added his voice to the conspiracy theorists this week by claiming, “We haven’t heard the last word”.
Accountability for the Sydney Rovers debacle that has left a bitter taste in the mouth of so many within the game directly affected by this decision.
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Who is taking responsibility for these problems and where’s the decisive action that will steady the good ship football and guide her to calmer waters? No one.
Instead Lowy has given Buckley, the person ultimately responsible for the direction of Football Federation Australia, a vote of confidence.
On Tuesday afternoon at a press conference imaginatively titled, “Football in Australia has a bright future ahead,” Lowy said he took responsibility for the bid’s failure, yet his reaction was to tell us everything will be fine and give out a new contract to his second in command.
Guess what, I’m not convinced and neither are many others.
Then we saw the announcement of a wonderful fan forum that will bring together people from right across football’s broad spectrum to discuss the issues facing our game.
I see it as a clear sign of not just the thirst this country has for football, but also the severe dissatisfaction felt over the direction FFA are heading.
Quite simply there are a lot of football people who feel like the game they love isn’t being looked after and that their concerns are being ignored.
“We are loyal to our people,” trumpeted Lowy on Tuesday.
Frank, this week has shown that many don’t feel that to be true.
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