Aussie clubs cry foul over fears that FFA power play at FIFA will slow reform

January 31 – Debate is raging in Australian football circles over an apparent refusal to implement FIFA reforms and make the national association (FFA) more democratic.

Aussie FA bosses Steven Lowy (pictured right) and David Gallop (left) are holding talks in Zurich this week with FIFA president Gianni Infantino over what Australian media are describing as a last-ditch attempt to cling on to power.

The Sunday Herald Sun reported the pair will request an extension on the March deadline for local reform, requested by FIFA to address the lack of democratic process in FFA board elections.

Last November, in an unopposed father-to-son handover, Steven Lowy replaced Frank Lowy as FFA chairman.  But just 10 voters – reported to be the lowest among all 211 FIFA member nations – elect the FFA board.

“We expect the FFA to have fully concluded the statutes alignment process by the end of March 2017. This includes approval by the Congress,” a FIFA spokesman told the Herald Sun at the time. “According to FIFA Statutes all member associations must ensure that their legislative bodies are constituted in accordance with the principle of representative democracy.”

Australia’s  10 A-League clubs have issued a strongly worded statement from  their representative body, the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association, protesting at the way the FFA board is made up.

“We would find it unacceptable if the visit by the FFA chairman Steven Lowy and FFA CEO David Gallop to the FIFA president either delays the long-overdue reform of the FFA general assembly, or creates a circumvention of the committed process of engagement with stakeholders of the Australian game,” the statement said.

“It is the APFCA’s position that the Professional Game can no longer be expected to be the major financial provider to Football Federation Australia without fair democratic representation in the FFA General Assembly.’’

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711727087labto1711727087ofdlr1711727087owedi1711727087sni@w1711727087ahsra1711727087w.wer1711727087dna1711727087


Latest Tweets