February 3 – The Australian FA has agreed to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to meet a March 31 deadline to reform itself and become more democratic following talks with FIFA officials in Zurich this week.
The FFA has been under pressure to expand membership of its 10-member Congress, which has representatives of the country’s nine states and territories but just one delegate representing all 10 professional A-League clubs.
Australian media reported last week that an extension of deadline was being sought but it now seems the FFA have agreed to meet FIFA requirements.
Last November, in an unopposed father-to-son handover, Steven Lowy replaced Frank Lowy as FFA chairman, a move that generated widespread criticism across the country.
The A clubs, represented by the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association (APFCA), are responsible for up to 80% of the revenue of the FFA which announced a six-year television deal worth A$346 million ($264.69 million) in December, the biggest sum ever negotiated for the broadcast of A-League matches and men’s and women’s internationals.
This week the clubs warned against any attempts to delay or circumvent the “long-overdue” reforms and in a statement, the FFA said Lowy had held “constructive discussions regarding the process of expanding the membership of its Congress which would allow for a broader representation of stakeholders.
“FFA indicated its intention to hold further discussions with stakeholders … in coming weeks with a view to implementing membership changes through an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of its members by the end of March,” it added.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713910357labto1713910357ofdlr1713910357owedi1713910357sni@w1713910357ahsra1713910357w.wer1713910357dna1713910357
