If you thought the Gillard-Rudd stoush was childish, the war between Football Federation Australia and Clive Palmer’s FA is an exercise most kids grow out of in kindergarten. Both the FFA and the FA have embarrassed the game they are supposed to serve.
In case you missed the rumblings, Clive Palmer’s Gold Coast United have been kicked out of the A-League for flagrant breaches of the FFA rules.
In response, Clive Palmer has set up the Football Australia (FA) body with former A-League Chief Archie Fraser running the show.
Suddenly, two football bodies are up and running in this country leaving the football community punch drunk as to what is going on.
What we have are two billionaires, both with agendas, who struggle with not getting their own way.
If either body thinks they can claim the moral high ground they are greatly mistaken.
For starters Clive Palmer was welcomed into the game with open arms by Frank Lowy and the FFA executive.
The rushed nature of A-league expansion MK1 was fuelled by a desire to strike a blow towards the NRL and AFL.
They saw him as a sign that the A-League was a credible business interest and ensured many of his needs were looked after.
Remember when Palmer capped Gold Coast crowds? This was only repealed when the FFA agreed to market Gold Coast United on the Gold Coast.
How the FFA could not have predicted this calamity is beyond me.
They let a well-known maverick into the game and failed to keep a check on him while he ran around spouting rubbish and earning disdain from the football community.
But seriously Clive, you are a fool.
Your embarrassing attempt to run football has been nothing short of laughable and idiotic.
For someone who can’t decide on whether they love or hate the game, it’s not surprising that you can’t even decide on whether your new organisation is a rebel competition, sporting think tank or a United Nations peace organisation.
Since the appointment of a 17 year-old as captain, Palmer has shown himself to be incompetent and absurd in his public statement.
He has also shown to be a hypocrite as his Freedom of Speech demonstration masked the fact he sacked a coach for speaking his mind.
Palmer has shown us he is a buffoon without a patient or thoughtful bone in his body.
If he had bided his time he could have forced changes at the FFA which would benefit clubs.
Instead, Palmer’s neurotic football ambitions have set the owners of the clubs back five years in demanding reform.
In conclusion, I don’t really care which organisation is in charge of the game as long as they let the football do the talking.
The skills and tactics of the A-League have matured, it is a shame some of the game‘s custodians haven’t.
PeterK
Guest
I'm getting tired of hearing denigrations of people. It sounds like modern politics. Let's play the ball (the policies) rather than play the man! -- in both spheres: in football and in politics.
PeterK
Guest
The three f's -- family, friends, and football -- sounds like heaven to me!
JR Salazar
Guest
I'd do it...if I had that much on hand. ^_-
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Isn't the customary crazy-man bet $10,000 now?
JR Salazar
Guest
One U.S. Dollar, and I am betting it's not.
George Goodison
Guest
Another badly informed and a total mis-understanding of what Palmer has set up. It is a supposed lobby/watchdog. The chance of a rebel league is NONSENSE. I am suprised these silly articles are getting an airing, for lack of knowlege of football and its establishment. Lowey, as head of the FFA had to take action against GCU management and did so
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
So you're that confident Palmer's FA is a credible alternative to the FFA that you're betting a whole one AUD :-)
JR Salazar
Guest
9070.0000 IDR, Fussball ist unser leben. Your move.
MadMonk
Guest
As a football fan I am not embarressed. GCU and Clive Palmer have been an embarressment and I am glad Frank Lowy called it for the fraud it was. What Palmer does form here is irrelevant.
jamesb
Guest
"In case you missed the rumblings, Clive Palmer’s Gold Coast United have been kicked out of the A-League for flagrant breaches of the FFA rules. " Technically Gold Coast United haven't been kicked out of the A-League just yet. What's happened is the FFA have taken the licence away from Palmer who was financing the club. Gold Coast are not gone yet. Whether its another "white knight" (unlikely) or a consortium in place (hopefully) than Gold Coast can still continue next season. But I've said this many times, the FFA need a plan B, if we have another Clive Palmer situation in the future. But I still think an improved Tv deal should be the one that finances the clubs
Kenthepom
Guest
It's my understanding that any player who signs to play in a competetive comp., not recognised by the F.F.A., would automatically be excluded from playing for his or her country of birth. This in itself would be a giant hurdle for anyone attempting to establish a breakaway league. Players be warned. In regard to Fraser, I reckon he sold his soul to the money pedlar. Go Gold Coast ,I hope you win tonight.
The Bush
Roar Guru
To be honest, even my most dedicated Football friends weren't even aware of "Football Australia" until we talked about it at the Roar game on Friday. Sometimes I think the sports addicts here on the Roar assume everyone follows the minute details of the sporting world the same way we do. I think this will all blow over very soon - no one is seriously going to back Clive. In the medium-term, the FFA can put a lot of this behind them by ensuring the GCUFC plays out the rest of the season (ensuring integrity) and keeping a ten (10) team comp in action next year.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ JR Salazar How much money would you be willing to put up? Are we talking 1 Rp (IDR) or more than that? I'll bookmark this thread and re-visit every year for the next 10 years to see if you are correct.
JR Salazar
Guest
And that body will swallow the B-grade body up. I put even money on that.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I sat in the stands at AAMI Park on Wednesday night to watch the AUS v KSA WCQ and, again, yesterday to watch MVFC v NUJ. I can assure you that, amongst football fans, the governance of the game was never on the conversation agenda pre-game, at HT, or post-game. Rather, fans were more concerned about weighty football issues such as: why is Holger playing 4 CDs when we have Marrone & Carney on the bench; doesn't Bresciano look fantastic back in the NT colours; why is Magilton playing Kemp & Foschini when neither player can defend; why did H try to lift the ball when he took penalty 2, instead of going with the same technique that worked well for penalty 1 and, the most important issue, how are we going to cope with MHT in the finals and MVFC is not. Stop the clocks ... Football governance is flawed - at international & local level! Talk to citizens in any country on earth - including Australia - and they will tell you political governance - local, state/provincial, federal - is flawed. Talk to shareholders of any public company and they will tell you corporate governance is flawed. Nearly 150 years ago Lord Acton observed: "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely". And, therein, lies the problem. Human beings have been flawed since Adam took a bite of that damned apple; and, we always will be flawed. So, I've now come to the realisation that, as long as those in governance are not impinging on my basic human rights, they can can continue with their silly little power-play game; I'm just going to sit back and enjoy my family, friends & football. Life's too short to be angry all the time.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
There are not two bodies running the game in Australia. Even if Palmer succeeded in starting up some B grade comp, there would still be only one body running the game in Australia.
JR Salazar
Guest
They share the parallel in that there are TWO bodies running the game in their respective countries. Not one.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
In no way can the Australian situation be put in the same category as the ills that currently face Indonesian footbal.
JR Salazar
Guest
Apparently Indonesia is not the only country that is suffering from a football schism...FIFA send help!