FIFA tell FFA you must reform now as Steven Lowy and David Gallop’s dash to Zurich all is for nothing

FOOTBALL Federation Australia’s attempts to kill off moves for local reform have been rebuffed by the game’s global governing body.

FIFA is understood to have held firm on a March deadline to implement change to its governance structure after high level meetings in Zurich on Thursday.

It’s understood that a March 31 deadline has been set by FIFA for Australian stakeholders to agree on a new general assembly — the electorate deciding on the composition of the FFA board.


FFA chairman Steven Lowy in discussion with a FIFA official.
An FFA delegation, led by chairman Steven Lowy and chief executive David Gallop, met with FIFA heavies where it’s believed they were told they must stand by reform plans.

FFA must now agree with local stakeholders — including A-League clubs, state and territory federations and the players’ associations — on a new voting structure.

A failure to reach a compromise by the deadline would see FFA risk sanctions.

In a worst-case scenario for the local game, Australia could face suspension from FIFA if it does not comply with its demands for change.


(Left to right) FIFA official, FFA head of international affairs and government relations Mark Falvo & FFA head of legal, business affairs & integrity Jo Setright
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was only briefly involved in discussions, with the bulk of Thursday’s meeting held with FIFA delegates who visited Sydney to discuss reform measures last September.

FFA held a board meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Lowy and Gallop dialled into the board meeting from abroad, as they discussed reform with the local based board members.

FFA did not issue a statement on Thursday night.

Currently just 10 voters — the lowest of the 211 FIFA member nations — elect the FFA board.

The handover of power from former chairman Frank Lowy to his son Steven in late 2015 has been a particular point of interest in FIFA corridors.

A-League TV: FFA chiefs to meet with FIFA president

While at home, A-League clubs are agitating for a greater voice in the running of the game, with a competition run independently of FFA the wish of many in the game.

Other stakeholders — men’s and women’s players, referee, futsal etc — also want voting rights.

Nine of the 10 votes are currently held by state and territory federations. The other vote is a collective vote of A-League clubs.

FFA needs to issue a reform proposal to the states by mid March.

FIFA needs to ratify the changes by the end of March.

Lowy and Gallop were joined in Zurich by FFA head of international affairs and government relations Mark Falvo as well as FFA head of legal, business affairs and integrity Jo Setright.

FIFA delegates included head of corporate legal Stephanie Maennl and manager of member associations Luca Nicola.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/fifa-tell-ffa-you-must-reform-now-as-steven-lowy-and-david-gallops-dash-to-zurich-all-is-for-nothing/news-story/632df242d3c1a3cb00764fbff0dc6525

Good news but worryingly the ffa have only given themselves 6 weeks to get something out. Huge potential for Cock-up if they rush this.

A good result. Well done FIFA, I never thought I would end up saying that. The March 31 deadline cannot come fast enough.

They cock it up we get suspended. 

So arrogant of FFA to say "Wezz unique" and expect a result.

lol... inaction has its consequences...

I guess telling them we're unique didn't work? 

Forgive my ignorance but does this mean P&R is coming?

Good news. Watch them start pandering to the clubs etc now.

It wouldn't be so frustrating if you knew they didn't just 'secretly' jet off to Zurich to block the clubs etc out.

It all depends what the new structure decides. Ultimately they will be in a position to pick who runs the A-league.

FFA knew this was coming but tried a Hail Mary anyway.

Why else would they say sign a 6..... 6 year tv deal?

I wouldn't be surprised if any expansion teams are owned by the FFA so they can sell them in the future.

We'd be more unique if we were booted out of FIFA that's for sure

It might save us some humiliation with the way we defend. I think we will get hammered at CC and maybe not even qualify for the WC.

Back of dicks lowys. Your dictatorship is coming to an end.

expect nothing less than lizards when it comes to this topic...

as for fifa, brilliant

Thats already happened to us before when some of the "ethnic" clubs in the late 50's weren't operating within FIFA rules on transfers and playing players without clearances and paying transfer fees.  Roy Hay has written an article on this and I have linked it below.  Its interesting that FIFA doesn't include our pre "ethnic" membership in its history even though we were full members before the expulsion in 1960.  Its interesting reading about it and refreshing my memories of it as a teenager.

http://sesasport.com/?p=2205

I still can't see the problem with the current voting structure. Allowing the state federations to vote for board of the national body seems appropriate to me. 

Why should owners get more than a 10% say in operating the national football body? Why should the games participants hand over more control of the game in Australia to the A-League club owners?

Why should Australia not follow FIFA regulations?

Being unique is not a good enough reason.

This isn't solely about A-League clubs either.

Because the owners subsidise the A-League and the A-League subsidises the FFA.

Because the operations of the national football body directly affects them whilst it maintains complete control of the top tier. 

If the A-League was independent like it should be then you'd have an argument.

Are the State Federation structures based on representative democracy?  If they aren't then they wouldn't be representing the total body of their constituents at the national level.

The FIFA Standard Statutes as I read them don't require the clubs to have more say as they allow the League to be one member.  They also allow all the clubs to be members instead of the League.  Which way it is set up depends on the final structure as no one part of the game is meant to be in the position to effectively control the Federation.  At the very least those parts of the game that are not represented with membership of the Federation need to be members i.e. Women, Referees etc.

I wonder how much of the broadcast money was spent on this lil trip to Zurich. No doubt all expensed and travelling first or business class return for 4-5 people staying in 5 star hotel. Total will be more than $100k. What a joke. Could have just done it from here via teleconference. 

Anyhow good result really. Man FFA have a busy month ahead of them. First sorting this out then expansion criteria. Will be interesting.

please dont give any more air time or power to a certain CEO of a club.

The sport in this country will be worse off.

Sounds like the Crawford Report Recommendations.

Change is coming, lets see how much of these reforms would be implemented in full or else we might going back to the dark ages when FIFA took action against us. 

I think we are better than that as a country, but its an utter embarrassment that FIFA are telling the FFA how to run the game when FIFA have had their fair share of problems in the last couple of decades.

Also i have a feeling that the expansion criteria could be held off once this is done. 

Does the Crawford Report recommendation of votes per Federation based on number of registered players comply with the FIFA Statutes?  I'm not sure.

That's the key - rather than working on the problem they appear to have put it in the too hard basket and tried to defer.

Now they have put themselves over a barrel, because stakeholders know time is on their side (being suspended from FIFA does very little damage to state federations, A-League owners, supporters, the PFA, etc., but has massive repercussions for the FFA.