If self-interest lead to the demise of the National Soccer League, then Football Federation Australia is in danger of dying a similar death by a thousand self-inflicted cuts.
What on earth is embattled FFA chief executive Steven Lowy playing at?
By now we all know about the secretive meetings behind closed doors that locked out even the might of FIFA, thanks in no small part to the investigative work of journalists like Ray Gatt and Dom Bossi – not to mention the well-connected Bonita Mersiades.
If Lowy can’t sit in a room and find a way to increase the FFA congress and give the rest of football a fairer say in how the game is run, then why is he still the chairman of Football Federation Australia?
Because if Lowy is in it for the good of the game, the allegations that he talked the state federations out of agreeing to a 9-5-1 power-sharing split with A-League clubs and Professional Footballers Australia reek of a man who is merely in it for the good of himself.
No one should expect a scion of industry to simply roll over in the midst of complex negotiations.
But the fact that FIFA’s astonished representatives flew back to Zürich none the wiser as to how the deadlock would be broken is a farce of Shakespearean proportions.
Put simply, Lowy’s position now appears to be untenable – which is presumably what a seething FIFA will announce the next time they pitch up on our shores.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
In the meantime, there’s some not insignificant business to attend to, including the Socceroos qualifying for a World Cup next year, an official bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the near future and the start of a new A-League campaign just around the corner.
Are FFA up to the task? Because at the moment they appear to be spending all of their time waging war on the constituents they supposedly represent.
It’s enough to make you throw your hands in the air and shout: “But what can we do?”
And when it comes to issues of corporate governance, perhaps the honest answer is: “Not a lot.”
But perhaps we can take a more existential approach, even if only among the loyal cadre of commenters here on The Roar.
Perhaps we can think about what more we can do to contribute to the game we all love. And I don’t mean to think about it ironically, or sarcastically, or to pick holes in every single element of every simple suggestion.
I genuinely mean to sit back and honestly ask ourselves how we contribute to football in Australia.
If you enjoy watching an A-League club go around, are you a member? Or if you prefer a more grassroots approach, do you volunteer your time?
If you’re into the national team, have you thought about lending a hand to the home end? Or if you’re a stalwart of a club in the National Premier Leagues, are you showing up at state league and FFA Cup games?
Maybe it’s time to remind ourselves of why we love football and remember that while we’re busy pointing the finger at others, perhaps there’s more we could be doing ourselves.
I’ve been writing this column for close to nine years now, and I don’t write it for personal validation or because I think it might lead to something bigger. I write it to be part of the discourse; because it’s my small way of contributing to our football culture.
It’s an approach those who wish to hijack the game to further their own cause are welcome to borrow.
And maybe next time someone tries to use football for their own self-aggrandisement, we might feel slightly more connected and somewhat less bereft.
Because if football is these days merely the political plaything of the few, perhaps it’s time fans started thinking of some ways to fight back.
j,binnie
Guest
Waz - Are you kidding?. I don't think there is an "average' Australian alive who doesn't feel we are the most over governed population in world politics. With a population equaling a number of cities around the world, we are governed by at least 3 levels of government ,many of whom are enjoying those 6 figure salaries that you love to point out are part of the FFA deal. Cheers jb
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Oh sooo negative. What could fans get revved up about? Hmmmm, ticket prices, stadium seating, family friendly HAL scheduling, ... You can't think of anything? Seriously, there are two groups that are the core of any sport, the players and the fans, everyone else is there to make it run smoothly. If Lowy or anyone else think that they are the main act well they are delusional and need to step aside.
NUFCMVFC
Roar Guru
Very dissapointed, on the face of it the 9-5-1 was actually a reasonable balance, perhaps even over-balanced to the States as perhaps the tiny Territories should only have 0.5 spot each for 8-5-1 The A-League teams do deserve stronger representation, eg the power of a Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney and Sydney FC and the fan communities and commercial cut-through they facilitate, while different in nature and on a different level, is arguably comparable in power to some of the State Federations (especially the smaller ones) All in all though I'm not surprised, eg the NSL had too much power to the clubs, an independent A-League would be similar in terms of the larger HAL teams. An autonomous A-League is what needed That said they also need a reasonable amount of power given it is the owners actually putting their money in to invest, and there have been far too many restrictions in place as a hangover from the start-up phase No we have seen the pendulum swing too far the other way, eg the FFA has too much power and the game is held to ransom for their power-game nonsense, eg the World Cup bid and wining and dining with high-flying FIFA execs instead of putting in place the FFA Cup which is what most people wanted and the natural next step to consolidating the break-through of the A-League The FFA's treatment of the stakeholders from owners via intellectual property restrictions, to the State Federations and "Old Soccer" by delaying the implementation of the FFA Cup out of spite to fans via their bullying overbearing security approach has been disgusting And while "things aren't as bad as the old days" the FFA have still mis-managed things to the extent where football has not been able to be as potentially healthy a situation as it could have been
Nemesis
Guest
To get unity across fans who are from different regions & support clubs with a disparity of ambition, etc. is nigh impossible. Regardless, let's say there is a Union that represents ALeague fans. What exactly are the Top 5 policy changes this Union should campaign for? Apart from Scheduling & Broadcasting, there is nothing that I, as a fan would get revved up about. At club level, for sure, I think supporter groups should be given far greater voice. But, at the League level, I can't see the point and, more importantly, I can't envisage a model that would bring all fans together where we'd be happy with 1 person representing us at FFA Congress, or ALeague level.
Waz
Guest
Before the HAL can make up shortfalls in FFA funding the various parties would need to see the financials. No way should the HAL be funding massive seven figure salaries and an army of support staff.
Waz
Guest
Agree Chris. I'm not saying fans would know how to run a league competition either, but my point was fans need to get organised and get a voice - it can make a difference.
punter
Guest
No the comment about Sam Kerr, just ummmm. While the Matilda's performance are outstanding, you cannot compare it to the men's where the depth are so much higher. Ken's comments are far closer to the mark then whatever point you trying to make.
Midfielder
Guest
JB You and I share a similar concern .... has been a issue for as long as I can remember, always somebody wanting something extra for themselves... Me thinks putting in the full recommendations of the Crawford report would go a long way to solving most of the problems.. I think the A-League should stand alone and administrater itself but given other issues there needs to be some acceptance that the A-League needs to support FFA fully and make up short falls in FFA income... One thing I am certain of is no group or most groups do not want to move away from the closed system...
chris
Guest
Ok Waz I get where you and Grob. are coming from. I don't know if the average (or even slightly above average) fan knows the machinations of how it should be run and how it shouldnt be run.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
You disagree that the Matildas are currently more formidable than ever?? (now I'm the one scratching my head)
Lionheart
Guest
you're full on already Buddy well done, and thanks
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Agreed Waz, there should have been an uproar at the time, from all corners, but there was silence (and in fact, many were supportive, curiously, many remain supportive).
mattq
Roar Rookie
I know JB and I respect your knowledge but why should Australia be any different to any other FIFA members? I think the game has moved on from how it was run pre-HAL. Trust me I certainly don't want Greg Griffin running the game but something needs to give, the current model doesn't align with FIFA's statutes so we have little choice.
Waz
Guest
Good post.
punter
Guest
Amazing, what a comment, says shaking head, truly delusional.
Waz
Guest
Fans can make a difference. They just need to get organised. (at the moment they're not).
Nemesis
Guest
There seems to be confusion about what the ALeague clubs want. They do not want to run the competition themselves. They want the ALeague competition to be run independently. What does this mean? I've outlined the basics of what I think "independent ALeague" means, in a discussion piece a few months ago: http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/03/04/buy-buy-old-league-welcome-newal/ At the very minimum: 1) All the ALeague's assets & liabilities must be contained in a separate entity and not lumped in together with the FFA's other assets & liabilities. 2) Separate accounts must be recorded & reported for every dollar that goes in & out of the ALeague 3) A dedicated staff must be employed to only focus on ALeague operations. Broadly there are 2 major jobs for the ALeague Head Offics: a) Operations: organising the fixture; organising & operating the finals b) Marketing & Promotion: Actual H&A matchday operations are controlled by the home club, so there would be minimal time needed for this. Organising the fixture will require significant focus for 1-2 months per year. Organising would require resources for 1 month. Marketing & Promotion requires a dedicated team. This function could even be outsourced to a Marketing Agency that will give 100% focus to the ALeague. So, yes. The ALeague could run independently tomorrow & it would, most likely, be run a lot more efficiently & get better results.
pacman
Guest
I agree jb, HAL, in my opinion, not yet ready to run itself. What I am interested in is why the haste to change the status quo? I commented on another post a few days ago that it appeared outside influences were at work, but no responses. I suspect that our success since being admitted into the AFC has generated more than a little envy in certain quarters, hence AFC visiting our shores in tandem with FIFA. One would think FIFA would have greater concerns with USA's MLS, which by its very nature and size, places FFA in the minnows division. But we are a much softer target, plus there is probably more envy in the AFC than there is in CONCACAF. If FIFA decides in November that it is time for them to act, it has to be hoped that they, or their Normalisation Committee, will employ due diligence prior to making any changes. Changes definitely need to be made, but let's hope that common sense prevails.
Nemesis
Guest
"I’d say the majority of football fans were accepting of the situation because we had been conditioned into thinking the game owed a huge debt to the Lowy family." No. I'd say the majority of football fans were accepting of the situations because there are 10 people who vote for the FFA Board & there is absolutely FA that fans can do to influence who those people vote onto the Board. If you think fans can make a difference then you are naive about how the FFA Board is elected &, more importantly, how the individual State Fed Chairman are elected.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Relax Ken, Matildas currently look more formidable than ever, and the poster girl herself, Sam Kerr, has disowned her original football code.