I might have been the only person in Australia to empathise with FFA CEO David Gallop through his two media statements, both of which he was heavily scrutinised for.
We all know the saga of media events that have plagued football for the past fortnight, from Rebecca Wilson and Alan Jones confusing football for Syria, to hitting the breaking point with the puzzling ban policy that has enraged A-League fans for years.
To put it in a term, football descended into chaos in late November, and I agree with the fans on two big things.
Yes, the FFA should have chastised Wilson and Jones for their ludicrous comments and unethical breach of privacy. None of those 198 deserved what The Daily Telegraph dished out; it was a breach of privacy that some of our most serious criminals don’t even face.
Secondly, enough was enough with the bans. It’s something I’ve heard about for years in a Perth Glory context and there still seems to be a complete lack of understanding of the rules from all parties. It needed attention immediately.
In light of these issues, an extremely cautious PR strategy exercised by the FFA completely backfired on them in a way unpredictable to most. It’s even got to the point where comments calling for #GallopOut are popping up everywhere.
While I agree with the fans for voicing their opinion, I completely disagree with #GallopOut. For me, it all comes down to a matter of understanding the man and who he is.
In a professional sense, Gallop is not the charismatic, charming and extroverted leader to lash out at Wilson and Jones. Originally a lawyer, and the son of one of Darwin’s most serious and menacing Supreme Court judges John Gallop, Gallop’s professional personality was shaped to be unemotional and as steely as possible.
So if you were expecting a speech from Gallop that reached the passion of Mel Gibson in Braveheart, a re-elected Barack Obama in front of his Democrat audience, or the capo of the RBB, you were expecting too much.
However, what Gallop lacks in charisma and charm he makes up in his impeccable administration skills. Our AFC Asian Cup 2015 was an amazing success on and off the field. The appointment of an Australian head coach was Gallop’s vision, and he was the one to pitch it to FFA chairman Frank Lowy. The rest as we know, is history.
It’s also important to note that while Wilson and Jones were bouncing off each other in a whirlwind of vitriol, Gallop was in India at the Asian Football Confederations Awards. With the FFA nominated for five big awards, Gallop was central to laying important groundwork to maintain and optimise Australia’s standing in the Asian Confederation, which could potentially mean more Asian Champions League spots for A-League clubs.
As a diehard Perth Glory member of nine years, I couldn’t be any more welcoming of this, given we were so cruelly denied our rightful place in the competition after finishing third in season 2011-12 due to administration politics.
It may also be assumed that Gallop should have been back home immediately when all hell broke loose, but here again you have to see it from Gallop’s perspective.
These awards were the first time Australia had the full attention of the confederation since joining it in 2007, an opportunity that is simply unmissable for the governing body. Even if Gallop had wanted to put the fans first, he also has a new boss in Stephen Lowy that he’ll be desperate to impress from the outset of his tenure.
The underlying issue to the whole PR explosion is the misreading of fans.
Gallop’s background is NRL, where most of the crowd sits still for a majority of the game. Suddenly, he’s running a game run by active crowds; jumping up and down, left to right, holding their messages on big banners and even turning their back on the game for a full minute.
Gallop has admitted it himself; he loves it, and the marketing team of the FFA do too. However, stadium security and a surprisingly bigoted NSW police force do not, and there lies the big challenge for the FFA.
Understandably, you may not agree with me on this point, but I can forgive Gallop for being a bit slow to understand the stadium staff and authorities versus active support issue, given it’s probably the one thing that isn’t in his extensive history of sports administration.
Even on the issue of the right to appeal bans, that’s a problem that has gone on for much longer than Gallop. In fact, as someone who sits well away from the active support areas at A-League games, I didn’t realise it was such a big problem until now. I don’t think many non-active supporters did either. Mind you, I could be completely wrong as well, maybe it has been very visible.
So if we don’t want #GallopOut, where do we go from here?
Let’s teach him the football way. Gallop is an excellent sports administrator and businessman and he’s proven he’s not scared to make big decisions for the good of the game; coming down heavy-handed on Melbourne Storm and Perth Glory in response to salary cap rorting. While he may not show his passion outwardly, it still drives his competitive edge and determination to make football Australia’s number one sport.
If there’s one thing Gallop would have learnt this week, it’s that passion for our sport burns in Australian football fans like nothing else, and we want to see a bit of it from our governing body. With a revised media statement this week, where Gallop was gallant enough to say “we were wrong”, there’s no doubt that Football Federation Australia has received that message. The fans’ message has really shaken them in the past fortnight.
I’m confident the FFA will act appropriately on reshaping the ban appeals process. I’m confident the FFA have learnt to strongly defend their fans from unfair vitriol and heavy criticism after this weekend. I’m fully confident David Gallop is the man to lead the charge.
As fans, let’s guide this very competent sports administrator to understand our beautiful game in full. We have the floor to shape our game. It’s time for us to move forward and do so.
Jets Fan
Guest
The bans are NOT what the walkouts are all about. They are a catalyst, the straw that broke the camels back so to speak. The Problem is the FFA attitude to the Supporters Groups. They employ security like they are expecting trouble. Then overreact when a little occurs. Nothing riles people up more than being surrounded by the Riot Squad before the game has even started. A whole new attitude is required. That may require New Personel. As for Mr Gallop, the first thing he needs to do is drop the impression he gives that only his opinion matters! It doesn't!
RichardB
Guest
If Ange doesn't understand the active support is an important part of the game - if - then quite simply he's mistaken. But then,he's a coach. Doesn't need to understand the fans, the marketing. But FFA uses the active support as a big part of it's marketing, and then does it's best to squash that active support through OTT security.
RichardB
Guest
I see over the top security (the real thugs) and policing as being a big part of the problem, not the solution. Yes, get rid of the flare idiots, and anyone throwing a punch, with bans of at least a year. And eject dodgy drunks. But let the exuberant get on with being that way. And why would swearing be an issue in the active support area. Or banners.
Paul
Guest
The fact that they're advertising the NBL during matches?
The Magic Man
Roar Rookie
The 3 media identities involved are on their last legs and fast becoming irrelevant if not already. The "active" supporter groups appear to be littered with males who attended victim school and graduated with railway sleepers on their shoulders instead of the standard woodchip. David Gallop's bizarre leadership methods continue to inspire only his best friends and maybe members of his immediate family. I doubt any of this is doing the A League any good, and I hope most of the so called "active fans" find some perspective sooner rather than later. I hope that leaders of these support groups, and mouth pieces for this code begin working with police agencies, instead of leaning on new wave flake words such as "bigot". I hope that efforts to do so can break down barriers and bring understanding for different supporting methods and cultures that are associated with soccer. And I would also hope that real responsibility is taken through active supporter leadership to change attitudes of possible trouble makers, so that the unmistakable support flavour remains without the stench of hooliganism or flare presentation. The game now needs some whole perspective from its fan leaders... it needs this so that a recovery for Aussie soccer from this crazy period doesn't require a triple bypass type of treatment because we let this sore really fester. If fans can be the first to set the table for real peace talks... to initiate balanced, lucid peace talks with all stakeholders and agencies, then we can see if David Gallop is indeed part of the problem or part of the solution.
Kaks
Roar Guru
'Personally it is much more important the organisational culture of the FFA changes rather than make heads roll" Agree. The FFA needs an attitude change, not a personnel change. Except for De Bohun who has shown that he does not have any connection with the fans (nor does he want to), and that he is inept in his job.
NUFCMVFC
Roar Guru
Yeah have to say I've been a bit surprised, but perhaps that's because I've got low expectations of the FFA and no one except Clive Palmer called them out for their problematic organisational culture Eg there's a reason Bonita Mersiades and apparenty even Jack Reilly left In terms of De Bohun, he's tripped himself up badly with the contradictive comments, though really he is reading the FFA script and IMO we are at the stage where A League Chairmen should appoint A League chief Personally it is much more important the organisational culture of the FFA changes rather than make heads roll and/or kick Gallop out and get someone else based on the current culture in who will effectively be the same
Blubber
Guest
I noticed that the people boycotting the games were watching it on TV. The Murdoch masterplan is coming along nicely.
AR
Guest
"The low promotion for ALeague on FoxSports is due to FoxSports execs knowing they’ve all but lost exclusive rights to ALeague in the future." Is this statement based on anything other than pie-eyed guesswork?
AR
Guest
The Nix have practically zero to do with the quality of the surface, which was, by any measure, appalling to look at and dangerous to play on. Equally, the Nix can't change venues at late notice, and the chance of the FFA making the call at the last minute is again, practically zero.
marron
Roar Guru
Yes ok. Thinking about it the woman in question was charged with accessing the data. The dpp went after her (despite similar cases not being pursued). The leak itself then wasn't pursued by the privacy commission. No need, the state was doing it one way or another. I await with bated breath!
FIUL
Guest
Breaches of the Privacy Act aren't investigated by state police. There are special Privacy commissioners to handle the breach. Of course, there may be other crimes associated with a breach of the Privacy Act (eg theft, burglary) that police may investigate; but the actual breach of the Privacy Act is not a police matter.
marron
Roar Guru
Good for him. So are *those* fans holding the game to ransom, or not? Or is it the ones that don't think that as well? How can they if they're not important? Or are they not anyway? In which case why is it a discussion point?
marron
Roar Guru
Of course fuss. my comment was directed at the police who went in immediately despite not ever having bothered with similar breaches before. And they clearly were never going to be interested in this one either.
Harley Mitaros
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the comments guys - always appreciate opinions from both sides.
onside
Guest
Hi G, If I was editing your post, I would suggest in order for you to emphasise your point ,there was nothing to be gained in describing Gallop as a little weasel. Readers might see the, "boxing glove behind the bunch of roses" in your opinions that Gallop doesn't bend, but he comes across as a little weasel. A bit of fine tuning mate,that's all.
Bob
Guest
The point has surely been made and proven beyond reasonable doubt, there is no commercial demand for televised football in New Zealand. Jesus himself would struggle to get a better deal.
Bob
Guest
The venue decision is on the Nix, u can't pass that one off to the FFA no more than you can the fact it rained on my barbie last week. Let's get serious, the Nix failed to provide a decent surface .... but were at least playing in a stadium that looked great with 10,000 people in it for a change.
Steve
Guest
This whole comment is unsubstantiated crap. I doubt you have ever met a single Fox Sports executive. If anyone truly believes the comment above they have rocks in their head.
FIUL
Guest
"When it’s 200 people from a different social background…. who cares?" The NSW Privacy Commissioner cares. The Australian Information Commissioner cares. It's their job to care. That's why there are sections in the Privacy Act to deal with breaches of the Act.