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Australian Football has endured one wild ride recently. Allegations, drama, emotions, airing dirty laundry – it’s enough to make the writers of The Bold and the Beautiful look on with envy.
It has caused grief, affected livelihoods and divided fans of the game. All fans love the game, however I have sat back stunned at the inability of some to properly identify the root causes of the issues that face us. The inability to see that the problem lies with the play, not the actors.
To briefly recap, we have had the drama with Clive Palmer. Although going about it the wrong way, Palmer has raised some valid points. Most fans however defend the FFA in what they see as an attack on our game.
Recently Perth owner Tony Sage has stirred the pot, declaring he would refuse to fund both the women’s and youth teams. Again, fans have poured onto social media expressing their disgust. Tinkler threatening to sue? Outrage amongst fans.
The reality is these owners, who have put millions into the clubs, are being crucified by fans more intent on addressing the symptoms rather than the cause. Let’s also consider there has been a revolving door of club owners. What is the common denominator in all of this? Football Federation Australia. But let us not stop at owner unrest.
During the first seven years, the FFA has chosen to ignore key recommendations pertaining to the stability and wellbeing of any domestic football competition (boutique stadiums anyone?). They have kept to a rigid sponsorship program which has prevented clubs from obtaining additional funds, and denying them independence.
They had for a number of years neglected the A-League, instead seeking a silver bullet in the form of winning the hosting rights the World Cup, promoting the Socceroos in the mistaken belief that the A-League would ride on their coat-tails.
What they should have been doing is promoting the A-League in its own right. Planning for the future, building stable foundations.
Should we delve into their treatment of traditional football teams? Their lack of recognition of our footballing heritage, such as refusing to acknowledge the Glory’s 10 years of existence, for example. Or maybe the backroom deals.
A license given to the Rovers Franchise, which had been around for six months and didn’t even have sufficient financial backing. Other bids, in the works for over one year, were ignored and thrown on the scrap heap.
Questions abound over the World Cup bid, and the consultants. The sacking of Bonita Mersiades. A government bailout needed to prop up the organization. The firing of a significant number of FFA employees because the FFA was bleeding money. The list goes on.
So has the FFA learned from their mistakes? Well, no. They are again seeking that silver bullet, this time in the form of a TV rights deal, in the hope that it will make all their problems and the results of their mismanagement disappear.
The fledgling league has had two collapsed clubs, one on life support, and the Rovers, which failed to get off the ground. No clubs are making money.
The solution they propose? Bring in another two clubs! We can do it. Due diligence? Probably as much as was carried out the Rovers, or Gold Coast United, or the Fury for that matter.
And what is truly remarkable is the sentiment of the masses, caught up in this apparent euphoria to defend our game.
Fans on forums are eagerly discussing the prospect of new teams in the competition, shooting down owners who dare question the system, in effect defending the whole rotten structure. This is ignoring the fundamental issue, that it is this structure, the structure of Australian football that is flawed.
Unless the structure is changed, we will continue to have the same issues until the whole thing comes crashing down. The actors change, the script remains the same.
Many of you would have seen the movie Ice Age. In it, there is a scene where a group of dodos throw themselves off cliffs or burn themselves, until ultimately, because of their own stupidity, they render themselves extinct.
Remind anyone of the FFA?
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