Amid all the governance turmoil that’s going on in Australian football at the moment, an ominous new threat has emerged.
According to the chief football writer at the Australian, Ray Gatt, in an interview with the Daily Football Show, some of the AFC nations and those from West Asia, in particular, could have an agenda to kick Australia out of the Asian Football Confederation.
Australia’s entry into the AFC has taken a World Cup place away from Asian nations (as well as the last Asian Cup) and the wounds are still open. With the FFA in crisis and in a weakened state, some of the AFC members visiting Australia with the FIFA delegation could see this as an opportunity to strike.
The section of the interview only lasts about a minute, so there’s nothing more to go on that I can tell you, but this is a development well worth keeping an eye on.
Most people’s attention over the past few days and weeks has been on the FIFA part of the delegation, which has meant the AFC element has been overlooked to a large extent.
Does anyone know what the motives of the AFC delegates are?
Could a move be on to kick Australia out of the AFC?
Do those opposed to Australia’s membership have the numbers?
We’ll soon find out…
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
FFA's worst fears could be realised as mob mobilises after FIFA meetings It wasn't so much horse-trading or bargaining, but a union of mutual interests – one that would cause considerable concern for FFA. Australian football's stakeholders were in the same place, at the same time, seeking one outcome with the door firmly shut on FFA involvement. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffas-worst-fears-could-be-realised-as-mob-mobilises-after-fifa-meetings-20170809-gxsqxq.html
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Correct. Longer term it's a non-issue.
Nemesis
Guest
If you keep up with football news you'd be aware that President of UEFA recently said UEFA has been considering introducing a salary cap . And if you play Fantasy Football you'd know that the whole football world understands the concept of Salary Caps & the equitable reasons behind such a policy.
tom7
Guest
Australia should be kicked out of the FIFA for stubbornly rebelling against the European formula. Promotion - relegation, no salary cap, and no finals. Do it FIFA. Kick em out.
mattq
Roar Rookie
with the expanded world cup and the expanded births it brings, is our participation in Asia an issue for west asia now anyway?
Ken Spacey
Guest
Hope they'll look into the activities of clubs org cheer leader Griffo. Court action against an elected admin board and trying to prevent players from rep duty and trying to undermine sponsorship agreements between the FFA and other parties. Let us hope the FIFA heavies will look at everything and not just Lowy's desk. Australia's last exit from FIFA of course has no relationship to the current malcontents does it?While we're at it, Great Britain is one country not four or five and Monaco is not part of France. But hey NZ is a foreign country so that's why they shouldn't be in our comp. FIFA rules like their world cup bid standards are as rigid or as flexible as needed.
Nemesis
Guest
Don't need Ray Gatt. Make up your own mind AFC Statutes Article 12 Expulsion The Congress may expel a Member Association solely at the request of the Executive Committee if, without limitation: a) it fails to fulfill its financial obligations towards the AFC; b) it seriously violates its own Statutes, Codes, Rules, Regulations and Standing Orders or those of the AFC or FIFA; c) it ceases to have the legal status of a Football Association in its own country or territory; and/or d) it ceases to be a member of FIFA. 2. The presence of an absolute majority (more than 50%) of the Member Associations eligible to vote at the Congress is necessary for a vote to expel a Member Association to be valid. 3. The motion for expulsion must be adopted by a the Member Associations present and eligible to vote. -------------- So, if FIFA tells FFA to do something & FFA refuses... Then, for sure, we'll be kicked out of FIFA & kicked out of AFC. Other than that, nothing to worry about.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I should add, there is a 3rd member of the delegation, FIFA lawyer Rolf Tanner. I think Rolf's legal expertise would ensure that nothing untoward is happening.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I'd go along with this, very speculative on the part of Ray Gatt. In the first few years that Australia was in the AFC, there were grumblings from some members of the AFC, in particular, those of West Asia, who have probalby been the most affected by Australia's acceptance into the AFC (as far as WC spots go). Are there those who would love nothing more than to use this period of uncertainty to try and get an advantage for themselves? Yes, there probably are such people, but whether they have the capacity to influence FIFA's governance committee is another question again. For the moment, we need to put our faith in former Georgian Football Federation president Nodar Akhalkatsi jnr and the AFC's Ravi Kumar. Ravi Kumar is very well known in India as a celebrated air rifle shooter who recently placed 5th in the world championships.
Lionheart
Guest
Didn't sound to me like Ray Gatt was talking with any authoritative knowledge. It was conjecture. He gave no facts but simply referenced the old story that went around a few years ago (it's well known that ...).