If only Simon Hill were Football Federation Australia CEO. The commentator’s passionate retort to Rebecca Wilson’s article articulated the perfect amount of distain felt by fans, supported by evidence and discussed in context.
The rebuttal offered a stirring defence of a sport hit from pillar to post in the News Corp press, and unfortunately David Gallop’s statement on Wednesday paled in comparison.
The only quarrel Gallop seemed to have with the piece was the notion that the FFA was complicit in the bans by withholding the information to the public.
“What part of banning 198 people supports the allegation that FFA is in denial?” he asked himself.
A genuine argument nonetheless, but for this point of conjecture to be Gallop’s singular objection demonstrates why the CEO struggles to gain any public support.
Four days after the fact, Gallop finally confirmed the leak did not come from the FFA.
He continued to provide platitudes about how the organisation works with police and authorities to weed out troublemakers, before filling everyone in on his dalliances with the AFC in New Delhi.
While hundreds of online outlets put forward their response, Fox Sports’ headline football program was essentially gagged on the issue.
The ailing Shootout show, one of only two of its kind in the country, could not bring the topic up. This is in spite of working on a panelist format with some of the most opinionated identities in the game – Mark Bosnich, Ned Zelic and John Kosmina.
When the game is blindsided like it was on Sunday, the response must be swift and emphatic.
Speaking on the Fox Sports Football podcast, presenter Adam Peacock explained they had invited Rebecca Wilson onto the program to discuss the issue in more detail. Her predictable and cowardly refusal to do so came at no one’s surprise, eventually turning up in the more friendly surrounds of Sky News’ Sports Night program.
Wilson’s subsequent interview with Alan Jones was an exercise in fanning the flames. Rather than opening the article up to genuine scrutiny from those with far superior knowledge and expertise on the sport, she hid away to find solace with a shock jock.
The FFA cannot control the bigotry coming from these News Corp identities, but they can manage the situation in a far more proactive manner.
For Gallop to take four days to dead bat the issue is simply unacceptable.
The Wanderers and Victory will be voting with their feet this weekend, using the weapon of the walkout to voice their disillusionment with the inaction at head office.
The North Terrace and Red and Black Bloc are two of the biggest active supporter bases in the country and their collective protest will be felt at the matches and on television.
Various commentators made the valid argument that this will provide satisfaction for the likes of Wilson, emptying the stands and damaging the game at a vulnerable moment. However, fans clicking through the turnstiles in big numbers before staging the protest appears the best course of action.
If the FFA is going to stand idly by, then it’s up to the real stakeholders of the game to make an impact.
Gallop’s response to the leaks only confirmed why the walkout has to happen. Until the game has a dog with sharper teeth ready to fight the A-League’s corner, these protests are likely to continue.
If only Simon Hill could be CEO.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
She probably appreciates the Premier League a bit more because by the time it kicks off in Sydney she's drunk out of her mind and can't find the remote, consequently she'll be forced to watch more games.
Bemused
Guest
I've had the misfortune of witnessing Ms Wilson in action at my local pub a couple of times, shes every bit as unpleasant her public persona might suggest. I have no difficulty imagining that her claims are largely fabricated.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Sandra Sully reporting that police are investigating death threats directed at Wilson: http://tenplay.com.au/news/sydney/2015/11/26/Fallout%20over%20an%20article
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I'm just listening to Wilson on SEN. She says that what she has in her possession is a police file which was signed off by the FFA and then distributed to all the stadiums around Australia (and probably how it got out). Some on this list have been banned for 20 years. She is complaining about 3,000 misonygistic emails she has received in the last couple of days (noting that it's white ribbon day). She reckons she loves the Premier League but does not like the A-League, and she loves the world game when it is played beautifully.
Bemused
Guest
In the past I've generally been supportive of the FFA executive, confident that they were playing a balanced game with the long term health of the code as their overriding objective. I've seen them as good parents who understand that letting kids have their own way isn't always in their best interests in the long run. But something about the last couple of months has me worried. What I'm now starting to see is a bunch of career bureaucrats who see the pursuit of KPIs as an end goal unto itself, irrespective of how that may alienate supporters.....classic baby out with the bathwater stuff. I'm starting to see an organisation so consumed by process that they appear to have lost sight of their purpose.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I think this view has some merit - leave it to other columnists to respond to whatever the Wilson and her ilk have to say - CEO doesn't have to respond directly (unless he is asked a direct question about it).
nordster
Guest
Forget trying to manage it ....columnists like Wilson these days are just another voice in a multitude. Commenting on it is absolutely the place of other columnists like Simon Hill but not the ceo of ffa. It just elevates an ordinary opinion to be more than it is. Any issues with crowd behaviour are a stadium and police issue. It would be better if there was no 'Ban list' from ffa in the first place. By all means the stadium can attempt to enforce one but its not an issue for ffa imo.