Football Federation Australia’s last-ditch attempt to stave off FIFA intervention will occur at literally the last possible moment.
FFA has called for an annual general meeting (AGM) on November 30, where it will try to pass governance reform intended to keep chairman Steven Lowy at the helm of the sport.
That is on the same day as the deadline set by FIFA, which is threatening to sack the current board and install a ‘normalisation committee’ to run the sport if it is not satisfied by the changes.
Disagreement over how to expand the membership of FFA’s congress, the body that elects board members, has mired Australian soccer in an ugly political war for more than a year.
The model proposed by FFA is for a 9-4-1-1-1 congress.
That would ensure the nine state federations retain their votes, with the A-League clubs given four, Professional Footballers Australia one, and one each for representatives of the ‘community’ and ‘professional’ sectors of women’s soccer.
Crucially, it would also remove the threshold of a 60 per cent majority required to elect board members, and replace it with a requirement for a simple majority – a move intended to placate the A-League clubs, who want five votes to give them veto power in a 9-5-1-1 congress.
It’s understood all state federations except Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and Football NSW (FNSW) back the model.
However, e-mails seen by AAP suggest the A-League clubs will not support it.
The current congress consists of the nine state federation votes and one for the A-League clubs, and 75 per cent support is required at the AGM for changes to be made to the FFA constitution.
But there are doubts over whether FIFA will accept any modified congress model that was not also approved by the A-League clubs and the PFA, after instructing in August for all three stakeholders to come to an agreement together.
Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin, the representative of the A-League clubs, described that as an “insurmountable issue” in an e-mail to all stakeholders.
The key question is whether FIFA will deem any expanded congress to be in compliance with their statutes, which state: “Legislative bodies must be constituted in accordance with the principles of representative democracy and taking into account the importance of gender equality in football”.
FFA had originally hoped to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) last Wednesday but postponed it at the last second after learning it would not have enough votes to support what it was proposing then, a 9-4-1-1 congress with only one women’s football vote.
The EGM was to be rescheduled for November 27, but FFA was required to have given written notice by Monday for that to happen.
Instead it was locked in feverish negotiations with stakeholders to end the impasse, having been rocked by FFV’s decision to side with the A-League clubs, PFA and FNSW in opposition to the earlier model.
One of FFV or FNSW would need to reverse their stance for the new model to pass.
Waz
Guest
and you don’t have too much time ?
BrafDeakins
Guest
Cute. Way too much spare time boys. I heard the FFA keep a very close eye on these forums much like Ange enjoys reading other posters' tactics and formations following the Socceroos WCQ.
Nemesis
Guest
Thanks for Links & info, guys. I now recall that article. 21 members would be a good start, but only with 21 votes. 8 months ago, I wrote this article where I outline my vision for a new FFA Congress: - 57 membes - 57 votes - No one interest group has more than 50% of the vote - equal male & female reps for every constituency (except ALeague & WLeague can be all male/female respectively) http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/03/15/creating-new-order-football-australia/
Waz
Guest
Thanks Mid. Shambles of a process, the hope with Steven Lowy was that he would be more consultative than his father, sadly not true.
Midfielder
Guest
Waz Its 21 members but only 16 votes.. Members 9 State Feds 9 votes 9 A-League clubs 4 votes 1 PFA 1 vote 1 Womens 1 vote 1 Special interest 1 vote So 21 members with 16 votes .... the 9 A-League clubs are counted as 9 members but carry only 4 votes... Will fail IMO .... but if the F WK had offered this 15 months ago we would all be saying what a great job...
Nick Symonds
Guest
How would FIFA like their prawns?
Waz
Guest
It’s easy to miss. Have a look at this: https://www.ffa.com.au/news/ffa-sets-date-congress-expansion-vote There’s a couple of conflicting press reports emerging as well which isn’t helping.
Nemesis
Guest
Ok.I've missed that. How are those 21 seats allocated?
Waz
Guest
That’s old stuff. The FFA are proposing a 21 seat congress. Awfully convoluted and self serving.
Nemesis
Guest
I don't think that's the case at all. 9 = State Feds 4 = ALeague Clubs 1 = PFA Men 1 = PFA Women 1 = Community women's football
Waz
Guest
The worst part about this, and there are many poor parts, is it relegated the women’s game to a “special interest group” and a part of the game within the men’s game. It’s crass, tacktless, self serving crap.
Midfielder
Guest
Mods your kidding .... Double post guys ... FMD am I on some kinda watch list.. Nem & RBB Fully agree and it seems just a matter of time now. I never believed that Steven Lowy, was so how can you say, foolish is an apt word he was told by FIFA what to do and still keeps trying to undo it. What I think is beyond sad for SL is if after 3 months in office he said lets go with a 9-4-1-1-1 system, and then establish a set of criteria between ourselves to create an expansion program and the KPI’s needed for P & R he would have been praised and instead he has been dragged along lost the conversation, and every man and his dog [me included] now has there solution to Fix Football… All so avoidable,
Midfielder
Guest
Nem & RBB Fully agree and it seems just a matter of time now. I never believed that Steven Lowy, was so how can you say, foolish is an apt word he was told by FIFA what to do and still keeps trying to undo it. What I think is beyond sad for SL is if after 3 months in office he said lets go with a 9-4-1-1-1 system, and then establish a set of criteria between ourselves to create an expansion program and the KPI's needed for P & R he would have been praised and instead he has been dragged along lost the conversation, and every man and his dog [me included] now has there solution to Fix Football... All so avoidable,
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I cant see FIFA approving this regardless. There has to be consensus among all stakeholders with no interference from the FFA. This isn't going to happen so I have no idea how this is going to get rammed through, on the last day no less.
Nemesis
Guest
9-4-1-1 9-5-1-1 9-4-1-1-1 From what FIFA has instructed the FFA in order to reform, all these structures are a joke. Just adding a few deck chairs on The Titanic, when FIFA has given clear instructions the ship is heading in the wrong direction.
Waz
Guest
Let’s hope we are at the end of this mess one way or another and either by some miracle all parties agree on a path forwards on November 30, or FIFA swoop in, fix things up, eat all the prawns, and swoop out again as soon as possible afterwards.