[size=9]Soccer Rebellion[/size]

[size=4]22 Mar 11 @ 09:00am by KYM MORGAN[/size]

LOCAL soccer giants Adelaide City and Adelaide Blue Eagles are among a group of up to 10 clubs considering a move to form a rebel league.

The clubs were due to meet today (Tuesday, March 22), after presstime, to decide whether to break away from the Football Federation of SA (FFSA) and be part of the new, unsanctioned competition.

The meeting was set to go ahead despite an FFSA statement last Friday saying all 30 of its men’s member clubs had agreed to be part of its 2011 season, due to kick off this weekend.

Adelaide City’s chairman Bob D’Ottavi and Blue Eagles chairman Rep Giordano said issues including a lack of consulation and under-promotion of the sport had caused the fall out.

Mr Giordano said the Marden-based Blue Eagles were among as many as 25 clubs which initially considered breaking away from the FFSA.

But he said a number pulled out of rebel talks after being given a March 18 ultimatum by the FFSA.

But he said a group of clubs remained unwilling to withdraw their breakaway threat until final discussions took place yesterday.

If clubs leave the FFSA, which falls under the Football Federation of Australia’s banner, they risk losing funding and could be banned from competing in national under-age championships.

“Our position (will) depend on the position of other clubs when we have a meeting on Tuesday night,” Mr Giordano said late last week.

“We are sick and tired of the inability of the FFSA to administor the game.

“We are referring to them organising games and the services they are giving us, or the lack of . . . we pay $15,000 a year but we have no say, we are just being dictated to by them.”

Mr D’Ottavi said his club was still weighing up its final position last week and would attend Tuesday’s talks.

“We are not happy with the way they (FFSA) are running the league,” he said.

“In the last six years we have not achived anything. There is not enough promotion - that is the main thing.”

The FFSA runs the Super, Premier and State leagues - soccer’s equivelent of the SANFL.

FFSA CEO Michael Carter said the association acknowledged changes were need ing in the running of “semi professional men’s football” in SA and promised a full independent review this year.

He said the review would provide a “blueprint” for changes to elite men’s soccer in SA.

Mr Carter said the FFSA season would commence as planned This Saturday (March 26) and he expected all 30 clubs to play.

“I have recieved in writing from each of the 30 men’s clubs (an indication) that they will be participating in the 2011 season, as planned, kicking off next week,” Mr Carter said.


http://east-torrens-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/soccer-rebellion/

[size=9]Soccer Rebellion[/size]

...............issues including a lack of consulationand under-promotion of the sport had caused the fall out.

Mr Giordano said the Marden-based Blue Eagles were among as many as 25 clubs which initially considered breaking away from the FFSA.


“Our position (will) depend on the position of other clubs when we have a meeting on Tuesday night,” Mr Giordano said late last week.

“We are sick and tired of the inability of the FFSA to administor the game.

“We are referring to them organising games and the services they are giving us, or the lack of . . . we pay $15,000 a year but we have no say, we are just being dictated to by them.”

Mr D’Ottavi said his club was still weighing up its final position last week and would attend Tuesday’s talks.

“In the last six years we have not achived anything. There is not enough promotion - that is the main thing.”

FFSA CEO Michael Carter said the association acknowledged changes were need ing in the running of “semi professional men’s football” in SA and promised a full independent review this year.

He said the review would provide a “blueprint” for changes to elite men’s soccer in SA.