A-League clubs have warned FIFA Australian football is at risk of an “impending catastrophic collapse” unless its governance stalemate is settled ASAP.
The clubs, who are seen as Football Federation Australia’s primary nemesis, urged a visiting FIFA/AFC delegation on Wednesday to act swiftly on resolving the domestic game’s crisis or face “dire consequences”.
FIFA representatives Nodar Akhalkatsi and Luca Nicola, and the Asian Football Confederation’s Ravi Kumar are back in Sydney leading talks to set up a congress review working group – the softer alternative to sacking FFA chairman Steven Lowy and his board.
During a two-and-a-half-hour meeting, the clubs proposed FFA be banned from the group.
They also suggested it has an independent chair and consist of three state member federations, two A-League clubs and one players’ union representative, with special interest groups to be consulted.
In addition, the clubs want FIFA to widen the working group’s mandate to include other issues such as FFA’s appeal processes and its financial transparency.
On the latter point they have pressing concerns regarding FFA’s unwillingness to share records related to the controversial 2022 World Cup bid.
Furthermore, the clubs have challenged FFA’s existence as a ‘corporate’ entity able to utilise Australian Corporations Law, as opposed to an ‘association’ as per FIFA statutes.
Overall they were adamant the current landscape of slumping crowds and TV ratings presented an apocalyptic threat to the professional game if the impasse was not solved by the end of June.
“For the professional game the consequences of the continuance of the status quo are dire,” the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association’s submission read.
“All critical commercial metrics associated with the professional game are in decline and our ability to arrest that trend is completely blocked by the congress issue.
“Professional clubs stand on the brink of joining the nine club administrations that have already become insolvent in the first 14 years of the A-League.
“There are clear symptoms of a potential impending catastrophic collapse of the Professional game in Australia and these can be directly linked to the governance issue at hand.”
It comes less than a week after FFA put expansion back on the table, a move critics believe amounts to little more than posturing but for which the governing body says it’s committed to providing criteria next month.
Earlier on Wednesday, the state federations attended their private meeting with FIFA.
The federations also meet with the Association of Australian Football Clubs and FFA to nut out details of a potential national second division, though there are already contrasting views on things like when it would run.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
When you get a dull game like last night, all that's left to talk about is the poor sub 5k crowd and the very poor ratings: #ALeague #FoxSports#CCMvWEL 26k
Kangajets
Guest
A c I agree ☝️
AR
Guest
“Red Bull is a certainty. Then, we have a list of the biggest brand FCs in the world ready to enter the market.” Fussball predictions are the best predictions. We know they’re right cos they’re Fussball predictions.
Ac
Guest
Football is a game in Australia which seems to settle on everything other than the actual game. Like going to a movie and the reviewer just talking about audience and theatre. The game itself needs to be featured more. Now I wait some criticism —- go for it .
LuckyEddie
Guest
Here is a tip to those wanting change - get a football person in charge of football. They have all been from rival codes who are just in it for the juicy overseas junkets.
Square Nostrils
Guest
Midfielder Agree with everything said, particularly like the Belgium P & R system for the reasons you gave. This system fits in nicely with a 14 team second division in that the make up will IMO have to include teams that will always be potentially bigger or smaller than others. It says if you can be promoted by this method that your results on the park show you deserve it.
Midfielder
Guest
No doubt the clubs wanta make their point ... I am reminded of a US corporation who when sending out their equipment had a licence agreement and included in the small print no one picked up until a customer read it and sent it to the New York Times ... Its IMO very funny and obviously a joke by some employee who put in a paragraph of doom and gloom... I forget the product and the machine but this is what it said. """You failed to connect the ????? correctly causing an electrical fault that will cause the world to start spinning in the opposite direction and all life on it will be destroyed because you did not follow the instructions correctly."""
Midfielder
Guest
The world at times amazes me when we take IMO simple problems and make them beyond complex.... people and their desire for power and control and the belief they have the answer is IMO the biggest issue facing Football in Australia ... For me we need 30 teams, 16 in Div 1 & 14 in Div 2 .... we need to establish the criteria needed to become one of the 30 and its only two access to capital needed and access to a stadium at a certain standard... these things can be worked out and its not that hard. As far back as Adam Smith and in the system we live in capitalism works and this essentially those people who own a business mostly run it better than employees .... No brainier have the clubs run themselves... I would introduce the Belgium system of P & R between 4 & 8 years...and a review of how to join the 30 teams say 10 to 12 years out. BTW the P & R Belgium system works differently to the straight 3 up 3 down .... it works like this the bottom 3 in say Div 1 play the top 3 in Div 2 in a 10 round competition with the top 3 going up. Why I like it is twofold, first it provides a new competition new games and should create a lot of interest especially if running in conjunction with the finals... Second and why Its a good system for Australia as by the Div 2 sides having to beat the Div 1 sides they have proved they are Div 1 ready and not cannon folder to go down again. Arguably the most important thing the new leadership group needs to do is to explain Football culture and explain if a side fails in Football thats OK .... it fails due to its incompetence and a fresher and better run team will replace it...
Mahler
Guest
Apocalyptic...describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world. Yes, a bit over the top where the A League concerned!
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I'm hoping this next round of negotiations with the three man committee from FIFA and the AFC fails and FIFA takes over and does a complete restructure that looks a bit like what I have described. It's not impossible that will happen but it's highly unlikely
Realfootball
Guest
The language may be heated, but I have no doubt the clubs are right. I also concur with Nem, that if the door is unlocked, the capital is there to expand and upgrade the A League. Both Lowy and Gallop will have to go for that to happen. Too many people will no longer work with them.
Realfootball
Guest
You don't need another pair. You have the best on the market.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Pretty big problems around concussion in gridiron causing long term brain damage. I wonder when the AFL and NRL will be affected. The worst that can happen in football is that heading might be banned but it isn't absolutely necessary anyway. Taking the tackling out of the other codes however...
Nick Symonds
Guest
Apocalypse is a Greek word that means a revealing of truth. Can the parties involved handle the truth?
Kris
Guest
All true, but in the end all FIFA did was supervise a new election in Argentina. I imagine a FIFA intervention wouldn't amount to anything 'real' (eg expansion) but would simply about how many votes there are on the Congress and a new constitution. FIFA would only really care about the organistion side of things. It is also a bit alarming that we look to the second most corrupt organisation on the planet (after the Olympic Committee) as some sort of white knight to trot in and fix things.
Kris
Guest
Yep. Ambit claims / bargaining positions. The various sides painting the worst possible picture to try and sway FIFA to siding with them and implementing the solution they prefer.
chris
Guest
Thanks for sharing MF. Looking at the growth over there you'd have to say is pretty phenomenal. And remember that US football has had a few false starts over the years and a hostile media to contend with. The indicators are that youth are abandoning the traditional games (American Football for example) and moving to playing and supporting soccer.
Midfielder
Guest
Nem Hope you are right about what will follow. A little vid to add to your collection sorry guys off topic ,,,, anywho this is the effect the FIFA game is having in the US [OK is by the game maker so allow bias] ... but the move to have an A-League competition on the FIFA game if this vid is correct could be interesting ... enjoy... only 4 minutes... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Qn4znacHM
RandyM
Guest
I thought the use of "Apocalyptic" was a tad over the top to be honest. It's not a marvel movie now...
Square Nostrils
Guest
Here's the scenario as I see it as a long time follower of football in Australia. Lets look at the game as a mental state of mind. Early 2005 the mental state was apathy, the NSL was gone, World Cup qualification had been a rocky road of potholes in the road , with the Grand Canyon opening up in 1997. Since then 4 world cup qualifications ,an Asian Cup win and serious financial players getting into the game via the A-League. So whats the mental state today, well most people cant see the wood for the trees. Why is FIFA here, because enough people CARE about the game to want change so the game can grow. This means that if FIFA dont get the message this time, they will eventually ,because the stakeholders have set the ball rolling. Its either evolution guided by FIFA or revolution. Either way the game is not going back to pre 2005 apathy.