You have to hand it to Football Federation Australia, who saw the A-League was struggling and took the focus off it with a scandal entirely of their own making.
In all seriousness there are some important reasons Alen Stajcic’s sacking as Matildas coach warrants further scrutiny, and it has much to do with how football in Australia is to be governed going forward.
We don’t know anything new about why Stajcic was dismissed, but what we do know is how certain FFA members have reacted this week – and some serious questions need to be asked off the back of it.
For example, what has new FFA chairman Chris Nikou been up to all week?
He was elected to lead the organisation, so where has that leadership been?
Because for all his corporate experience and legal expertise, David Gallop looked like he’d been thrown to the wolves in that train wreck of a press conference on Monday afternoon.
FFA CEO Dave Gallop. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
It’s not often a press conference organised by officials conjures more questions than answers, but that’s exactly what Monday’s debacle did.
And in failing to definitively address exactly why Stajcic was dismissed, it lead to even more journalists taking a closer look at the situation.
Some of the best reporting this week came not from a dedicated football reporter but from the Sydney Morning Herald’s chief sports writer Andrew Webster.
His searing analysis included a suggestion from FFA board member Heather Reid that some of those asking questions were essentially conspiring against women.
“I suggest that it’s an ugly mess that some people in the media want to push against women of influence,” Reid told Webster.
“Certain people in the game want to ruin the reputation of pioneers like myself and Moya Dodd and hard-working people like Emma Highwood just to shift the blame somewhere else,” she added.
That is a startling claim for anyone to make, let alone an FFA board member.
After days of increasingly acrimonious questioning on Twitter, Reid locked her account last night, meaning her tweets are now only visible to her followers.
But that’s certainly not the case for one Lynda Taylor, who I think deserves to be treated with respect.
It was Taylor who predicted on January 4 that the Matildas would have a new coach in Rae Dower by the time February’s Cup of Nations rolled around, a fact first highlighted by the always sharp-as-a-tack Bonita Mersiades.
Plenty on social media have since suggested that Taylor’s is a burner account, or in other words, the nom de plume of a publicly known player or administrator.
But I don’t think that’s the case and there’s a pretty simple reason why.
A quick scroll through Taylor’s tweets reveals she’s got some strong opinions about the game, not many of which are complimentary of the FFA.
And I can see no reason why anyone would spend almost a year bagging the game’s governing body – and even defend Alen Stajcic – as part of a conspiracy to then have him removed from his job.
Instead, I think Taylor is simply a well-connected fan who uses social media to regularly engage with senior figures in the women’s game, including the conspicuously silent – at least as far as this week is concerned – Head of Community, Football Development and Women’s Football, Emma Highwood.
Speaking of social media, does the public’s questioning of FFA board members on Twitter this week mean those board members will now no longer use it?
What does that mean for the new era of transparency Chris Nikou’s appointment as FFA chairman was supposed to usher in?
So many questions still remain around the FFA’s handling of this week’s events that it would do a disservice to the game to ignore them.
And for those who feel the finger of blame has been unfairly pointed at them, well, how about walking a mile in Alen Stajcic’s shoes?
reuster75
Roar Rookie
Maybe as football fans we could all chip in to buy him a Hyundai he can drive away in and never ever return to FFA HQ. If we all chipped in enough maybe we could buy one with enough seats for the entire board.
reuster75
Roar Rookie
Technically speaking they didn't dismiss him, they paid his contract out as they weren't able to sack him due to not giving him any warning or counselling prior to his sacking - https://thewomensgame.com/news/ffa-sidestepped-warnings-to-sack-stajcic-518205 I would imagine his silence is because it would take time for his legal team to determine what, if any, actions are available to him.
reuster75
Roar Rookie
and let's not forget half the current board is the same as the old board
Loic A
Guest
I'd wager that's because she's Head of Women's Football. Unless another member of the board has the Mathildas' portfolio, if anyone in the board ought to have been involved with the decision, it's her.
oldpsyco
Guest
And please Nemesis tell us oh wise one; Just what qualify's you as a judge of what is a good A-League Owner? Another keyboard expert telling the rest of us how stupid we are, that we don't understand the game. You here every day telling us how it should be done! With what qualifications?
Mountains Football
Guest
I think it is cleverer than that - he is still employed. He has just been removed as coach - which his employer - the FFA is entitled to do. He is probably on what is effectually known as "gardening leave". You are paid to do nothing and importantly say nothing. There is no dismissal to challenge.
Mountains Football
Guest
I think Alan has two problems with speaking out: 1. He was probably only given some nebulous sounding reason - because the culture is unsatisfactory. He probably is not owed a reason because he was not dismissed. 2. As he is still employed by FFA he is bound by his contract of employment not to say anything. If he does then he will be sacked and lose his pay for the next nine months.
Freddie
Guest
1. Source? 2. Laughable. Nobody thinks he was elected fairly. 3. Fair cop, but Gallop's words, not the football community's 4. The A-League DOES have billionaire owners, quite a few. And for a league in "freefall" there were 15 bidders for the new licences. Some better than others, it's true, but not too shabby. 5. Yes that's true. Patience, we are just at the start of that process. 6. Meh, that was well over 10 years ago. Totally different landscape. 7. I'm sure you do, it's what you live for.
AR
Guest
Grazie
Glorious
Roar Rookie
There is little doubt about the identity of the alleged disruptive influence. Even Tom Sermani (when Matildas coach) mentioned her difficult personality and the need for delicate handling.
Ado Potato
Roar Rookie
Dominic Bossi has a new, detailed piece on the Matildas coach sacking in the SMH/The Age. When the story first broke, a week back, Bossi was basically reporting whatever the FFA put out. Seems like he has since done some investigating, speaking to players and staff. Conclusion: some players were unhappy about some issues (including some pretty troubling “fat shaming” from one or two of the Matilda’s staff) but not with Stajcic, per se. Bossi also writes about a certain player’s disruptive influence; I have my theories as to who.
Ben
Roar Guru
- 'Our Watch' review - Three male coaching staff members gone - Rae Dower a chance of getting the top job. Anyone else picking up on that...
chrisc
Guest
Whilst the board and Gallop may have handled this better, I actually applaud the board for doing the right thing here. These are football people that are close to grass roots and would know whats been going on with AS over the past 10-15 years. All these experts like Andrew Webster come on for 5 minutes, have a spray and then go back to rugby league or whatever.
chris
Guest
Peeko good point re: relationships in the team etc. It's quite endemic in womens football where players are in relationships etc. Not sure if this is the case in other team sports? It would not be easy dealing with this from a management point of view.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
RF speaking of ratings, the latest are an absolute horror show: Nix v Sydney fc - 13k Jets v Mariners - 17k Perth v Adelaide - 30k
Mister Football
Roar Guru
These sorts of fantasies have been doing the rounds for decades, the details change a bit, but the theme is always the same. When the TV deal is done and dusted, someone in the know always reveals how some tycoon was offering a king's ransom for the rights, but the Federation rejected the offer, only to accept a 2 cent offer from (name the evil broadcaster), thus solidifying the perception that the game is run by people who don't know what they are doing.
AR
Guest
My word. You could but make this stuff up. Well. Actually. You could.
Brian
Roar Rookie
This was quoted on 19 November a mere 2 months ago after being elected, "The less we talk about administrators [the] better. Let's get back to football ... It's important we put the line in the sand and focus on what we can do," Mr Nikou said. Not much more to say except false promises.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM2K7sV-K74
AR
Guest
“SBS viewers are chronically undercounted by the OzTam cartel. Once the HAL is on commercial FTA, you’ll see the true popularity of football.” “Steven Lowy was fairy elected and is clearly the best man for the job. What would non-football people know about The Game.” “FTA bidders are lining up.” “Corporate sponsors and billionaire future-owners are lining up.” “CFG have put a plan to the other owners about what needs to be done to take the ALeague to levels to make it the most marketable football league in Asia.” “Smell. The. Fear.” You gotta love this stuff.