Football’s head office might feel it’s stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of trying to keep everyone onside, but right now they ought to go into bat for the football family.
Keen to win over and keep non-football stakeholders such as the mainstream media onside, the FFA has been keen over he past few days to project an image to those outside the game as a stern leader.
It even took the bizarre step yesterday of issuing a statement citing the leaking of the ban list of 198 names over 10 years as “proof” they were doing a good job of managing any trouble-makers out of the game.
This has long been the FFA’s quandary.
For whatever reason they feel they can’t come out and strongly defend and protect their key stakeholder, the football fan.
Instead they play a game of trying to appease the likes of Rebecca Wilson and Alan Jones, part of a dying breed of shock-jocks trying to cling on to whatever it is they hold so dear.
And where is David Gallop in all this? Wasn’t he meant to be the CEO with all the News Limited connections that would help get the game onside with Murdoch, and keep it there?
All good in his first year when the Western Sydney Wanderers and Alessandro del Piero did all the work for him, even getting Phil Rothfield in among the RBB measuring and glorifying sound decibels.
But where’s this News relationship at now if the likes of Wilson, Rita Panahi and Graham Cornes line up in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide respectively for regular swipes?
Here was Gallop, on The Roar on Tuesday, telling us that he and his organisation had to spend more time listening to their key stakeholder, the fans.
In truth, this should be a given. FFA was certainly on the right path a few years ago when the Wanderers were born and flourished on the back of a well-managed consultation process.
Western Sydney’s fans got exactly what they wanted, and soon enough everyone wanted to be a part of the biggest juggernaut in Australian sport.
It was a time for level heads and rational thought.
But rather than remain humble and keep listening and building on the early success Gallop and his posse got carried away and started shouting from the roof-top about how soon football would swallow everything in its path.
Of course this sort of antagonistic diatribe is going to ruffle feathers, particularly with a few recalcitrants guilty of not taking the messages regarding flares.
The FFA became caught up in the public relations game of having to show respect for the process of authority.
Indeed it has even flamed tensions with fans through the existence of an extremely unpopular security consultant in Hatamoto and refusing to give those it banned, even for minor infringements, a right to appeal.
The pendulum had clearly swung too far in favour of the authorities, a point highlighted in a recent senate committee hearing into the over-policing of Wanderers games.
Wilson’s anti-football propaganda on Sunday was the last straw for many, bringing things to a head.
Whether it emanated out of a leak from an SCG Trust run by a bevy of white middle-aged males tied to other sports, or another source, the fact Wilson got her hands on the ban list shows there remain dinosaurs out there keen to keep football down.
Statistics such as those published by Roy Morgan this week highlighting the continued growth of the round ball and it passing national institutions such as swimming and netball will only heighten the attacks.
Now it’s up to the FFA to manage the mess, getting fans, authorities and media influencers onside.
For Steven Lowy and his new board it’s time to step in and take a critical look at whether those charged with delivering the game’s messages, and doing such a poor job of managing stakeholders inside and out, are equipped to take the game forward.
Problems in managing relationships with the Professional Footballers Association, fans, broadcasters and clubs have been long known, but now it’s clear the FFA are struggling to work with mainstream media and other parts of Australia’s establishment such as the police.
As I wrote last week, winning over football’s stakeholders remains a big priority, but this week served to remind Lowy that the game still has many battles before it’s fully embedded into the Australian way.
RichardB
Guest
As an enthusiastic supporter who has to sits in the regular stands with my family, I'm so glad we have the noisy active supporter groups making the atmosphere, unlike so many in the stands who might as well watch the game on TV at home for all the support they give, and even give us dirty looks when we are loud in support. And from my point of view, when visiting Wanderers ground, we feel far more at risk from the heavy handed security and police than from the RBB!! They are out to "exert their authority", come what may, even if it's not needed, whereas the fans are there to have a good time, like the rest of us. Lighten up on the over the top security, and discipline the police official who labelled us all "a pack of grubs". In the active areas security only needs to interfere if there is actual danger to people or property, not just because people are being exuberant, displaying banners, or swearing. And as for "guilty until you can prove your innocent". Well, just idiotic, unfair, and so misguided. Designed to put the Active support offside.
Chris
Guest
Totally agree the sporting landscape has changed and football has never been in a better space than now . The national team is the most popular national team of any sport, memberships at record levels and Tv deal better than we have ever had. Australia proved it loves football royaly with the sell put crowds in July. The biggest crowd this year was football 99000 at the G. Participation now shows it is the mos popular sport in Australia especially amongst girls and women where participation has surged. We need to now celebrate how far the game has come in this country. It's not all plain sailing but hey the metrics are all up .
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Hardly! You randomly try to weave gallops spruiking into the discussion. You obviously hate what gallop said, it gets your goat.. It annoys you to the core... And why is that? Because I don't believe it has anything to do with the fact that you truly believe that it was instrumental in *creating* an "us vs them". You guys have hated us for decades longer than gallops been around.. Try 50-100 years... And we've despised you for just about as long. Don't try to whitewash history.,, and like I always have to repeat to you AR, when your messiah Eddie proclaims publicly "don't let Melbourne victory get past us".. Do you think that was motivated by concern? Worry? *Fear* maybe? His tone an inflection had quite the odor of, let's call it "urgency" about it. Lol If Eddies scared, I'm sure the trickle down effect is what motivates all of you sad afl posters to spend all your time in soccerland
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
And Aladdin please don't tell me you find that funny .. Id hate to lose any and all respect for you.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Mitcher "To be fair, 70% of your post is about the never ending handbags you and about 3 other code extremists throw ad nauseum on this forum – rather than a reflection of any broader phenomenon." You talking to me? It helps if you tag me so I know you're being a t0ssp0t. I just googled u and found you're an afl poster..ergo, aside from being a sad loney afl git hanging out in soccerland, you're either a) ignorant about the history of the game and all the adversity it's faced b) you're agenda driven to the point of public denial c) you've been lobotomised.. Id say a bit of column b column c..
Casper
Guest
Punter - I'll pay that. Well done.
aladdin sane
Guest
hahaha lovely
Punter
Guest
No sure you joking Casper, but no they were eye popping beauties!!! When watching football I hardly have more then 2 beers, maybe a bit different for you watching Essendon.
peeeko
Roar Guru
bevy of white middle-aged males - i liked everything in your article except this. it is stereo typing and cant be done against other groups and races
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
What a terrible week for football and all we can do is sit back and take it. Nothing will happen, nothing will change, but the negative publicity has had an impact on the image of the game and the A-League will suffer.
Vic
Guest
Heres one for you! DON'T take OzTam ratings seriously -THEY ARE A TOTAL FRAUD!!!
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
I'm no expert on privacy laws but would have thought minors would be protected from having their name and image published nation wide for starters.
Casper
Guest
Pretty sure I read somewhere that Sydney Swans have a higher average attendance than Sydney FC and WSW combined.
onside
Guest
I always feel sorry for footballers who bust their guts for teams under financial duress. To me, financial stability of clubs out trumps all the other well meaning clutter floating through the A-League.
Sydneysider
Guest
SVB You have nailed it in one. MF isn't from Sydney and AFL isn't King in this city.
Pauly
Guest
Difference in privacy laws between Victoria and NSW?
Casper
Guest
Punter - You must have had your beer goggles on that night.
Lionheart
Guest
This is a good article Tony, Thanks for the insight into the strategic issues facing the new Chairman and board. Place AFC in there and it's challenging territory ahead for them. Personally, I can't wait for more football talk.
Lionheart
Guest
funnily enough though onside, both Wilson and Jones are Queenslanders and started their careers here. Good thing they moved on, and good the CM is talking football since Aloisi came to town.
SVB
Guest
Haha. Well said Punter. He's so obvious. Not subtle enough to be able to get away with it.