Hope everyone holds out for FIFA to come in.

The system is so flawed that we shouldn't be arguing for 1 or 2 more votes. The setup should start off with asking the question: who are the stakeholders for Oz Football and determine votes accordingly. Not, let's add a few more votes to get us across the line.

The entire way of thinking for the problem is wrong to begin with.

Hope they seriously butter up Victoria and flip them at the last moment, only for another fed like WA to say fuck it and change their vote

Someone needs to gif Lowy walking off the stage with his head down and everyone celebrating. 

Looks like a defeated man. 

i smell blood. i really hope this mob gets removed from power

God I hope the board is sacked and FIFA take control. What would be ideal was if a new board was appointed and they abolished the state federations. Maybe then we could finally get on with growing the game and stop the endless corruption and infighting that has been going on for decades that has been holding this game back. While the state federations are in control there will be no progress on any front of development.

Really hope one of the states says fuck it, just to plunge this shit into chaos.

-PB

So no new info there

Not looking good for young Steven...

from SBS

High noon for Lowy as opponents stand firm in joust for power

• Steven Lowy could be on borrowed time as FFA chairman. (Getty Images)

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Hide GridIMAGE 1/ VIDEO AUDIOThe curtain on the tumultuous two-year reign of FFA chairman Steven Lowy could be about to fall with the A-League clubs, the PFA and two rebel states holding a united front as Australian football's governance crisis nears its crescendo.By Dave Lewis 
21 NOV 2017 - 11:32 AM  UPDATED 2 HOURS AGOLowy is seeking to push through a 9-4-1-1-1 reform model at Thursday week's annual general meeting - to be held on the same day that FIFA's deadline for the imposition of democratized Congress agreeable to stakeholders expires.The 10 A-League clubs, the PFA and the Victorian and NSW federations remain vehemently opposed to Lowy's version of reform, making it likely that FIFA will step in, sack the board, and impose a normalisation committee early next month to run the sport.Lowy is determined to avoid handing the clubs and PFA the requisite number of votes for veto powers in an expanded Congress.Lowy's last stand as FFA runs out of rusesWatching Football Federation Australia employ every tactic, ruse and contrivance it can muster in the pursuit of power preservation has become a grim spectator sport of late.The FFA proposal would ensure all nine state federations retain their votes, with the A-League clubs given four, the PFA one and one each for the ‘community’ and ‘professional’ components of women’s football.The clubs and PFA favour a 9.5.1.1 model which gives the clubs an extra vote, and just one for women's football.Even if the FFA is able to garner the required 75 per cent support for its reform package at the AGM, it's doubtful whether FIFA would deem such an outcome acceptable, after in August instructing all three stakeholders to come to a mutually agreeable solution over a modified Congress.Lowy has been feverishly lobbying the state federations in recent weeks to lock in their compliance but suffered a significant setback when Football Federation Victoria chairman Kimon Taliadoros cancelled a scheduled appointment with him earlier this month, and sided with the clubs and PFA and forced the cancellation of a planned extraordinary general meeting.According to FIFA statutes, "Legislative bodies must be constituted in accordance with the principles of representative democracy and taking into account the importance of gender equality in football”.All of which leaves the FFA bereft of the mandates required, certainly in the eyes of their opponents, to retain any form of legitimacy.Between them, Football NSW (52 per cent) and FFV (13 per cent) represent 65 per cent of Australia's registered players, whilst the PFA represents the entire professional game.The other seven state federations, currently in Lowy's camp, represent just 35 per cent of players.All eyes will now be on Whitlam Square on Thursday week, with the club bosses convinced they have forged an alliance capable of thwarting a board which they believe is stifling the growth of the sport.Huge blow for Lowy as FFV sides with clubsSteven Lowy's grip on power at the top of Australian football has been dealt a colossal blow after the decisive voter in this week's pivotal EGM told the FFA chairman it would not back the governing body.The AGM comes just 13 days after Australia sealed a fourth successive World Cup qualification by defeating Honduras at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.The Lowys, former FFA chairman Frank and son Steven, were on the pitch celebrating with players at the final whistle in a moment of unanimity.But the irony of the moment was not lost on some, with the PFA, which represents each and every Socceroo, diametrically opposed to Congress the Lowys are attempting to impose on stakeholders.

FFA have talked up the Matildas after winning that unofficial comp like they are already WC champions. 

There is no win for the FFA here. 

turned and supported the model that every other state delegation is supporting?

I think the error is that they use 2 different ways to describe the same thing in the same sentence.

"The resolution would increase the Congress membership from 10 to 21"

This is wrong, because it should say the congress is increasing from 18 members to 21 or 10 to 13 (even though they want the votes to increase to 16)

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/fox-sports-football-show/id726594291?mt=2

Its No 2 Round 5 A League Review

Not sure at what point but its a great podcast just listen to it all anyway

`He was basically just down playing it and saying its a bad idea and was heaping praise on the FFA and sayng all the issues that surround Australian football and nothing is as easy as it seems.

I urge everyone to give it a listen.

I cant see FIFA approving this. It makes no difference. 

Some thoughts and legal opinion from smarter people than myself...


The FFA Directors have put up the special resolutions and recommended that they be adopted

It has increased AL to 4, added 1 PFA, 1 Prof women and 1 community women. So the identified stakeholder, PFA, gets equal rep to community women, whatever that is

AAFC, representing over a hundred clubs doesn't warrant inclusion whilst 2 ‘unidentified’ members representing groups already represented are included…

Clause 15j of the FIFA Statutes speaks of "Legislative bodies" being constituted taking into account "importance of gender equality".  The FFA membership, or Congress, is NOT a legislative body. It is NOT subject to this provision, whatever it might mean.

The inclusion of women is a transparent device, through the introduction of a seemingly sympathetic 2 members (women) to attempt a political fix. The objections to this course and the damage it will do to gender equality which have previously been identified stand but there will also be a legal objection. To achieve a political fix, they 'use' women yet again, while entrenching their status as a minority group where they should be equally incorporated and represented within existing structures and in the process, skewing forever and a day the congress so Lowy may live.
ie/ It becomes women within a men’s group rather than men and women in a group together

The threshold to get elected is to be 51%. This reduces the chance of a deadlock but it does not make it unlikely. The AL will only muster 6 and it needs 9 to elect a director. That remains difficult while the FFA, through its proxies, can secure 7 plus the community woman, leaving it needing only one of Vic and NSW to get up. Of course 8 each would result in a deadlock

There is potential for the A League vote to split, the FFA has made sure it has given this possibility every chance. The 4 votes are divided equally among the 9 AL teams and at the same time this increases to 21 the congress members (transparent window dressing) even if they don't all get a full vote

There is token provision for a bit more financial oversight of the FFA by the members

It is all so belated that it requires another meeting to be held later in order to elect the new directors (scheduled for Jan 2018)

I don't know what has been discussed so fervently over the last 8-9 days but this embarrassing special resolution must be rejected because it is a disrespectful sham.

What he say? Do you have a link?

Anyone else listen to the fox football podcast on money and here what Kossie had to say about a potential second division and the FFA?

Was discussing this with smarter people than myself last night...  The 4 votes being spread over 9 owners means that whilst the A-League votes only go up by 3, the number of voters goes up by 8.  The illusion of democracy.

I think it's an error.

They've just added:  9 States + 9 A-L + 1PFA + 1 Womens Pro + 1 Womens Community = 21

The A-League clubs are only getting 4 so thats = 17

This is confusing for me because what takes precedence?. although I understand we follow Australian laws, I'm sure FFA would have to have some form of an agreement with FIFA that we abide by their rules. I would assume there would be something within Australian Law, where by FFA has to acknowledge their agreement with FIFA.

Also in my opinion if this got taken any further it would be quite obvious to see that the FFA has meddled in the voting process to achieve their desired outcome. It seems to be forgotten that the FFA board really shouldn't have a say in the matter.

If this gets through I am expecting to see a breakaway of the PFA, APFCA and AAFC.

Is this today?

Your are right in respect of Corporations Law, however, FIFA run world football according to their edicts. If they are unhappy with the outcome of the AGM, they can install their "normalising committee" under a completely different corporate structure and they therefore don't need to deal with the FFA at all. 

In any event, as the FFA spokesperson said their purpose is to "advance the interests of the whole of the game". For the life of me, I cannot see how their actions have come anywhere near the stated objective. I wonder if we should call ASIC?

@AJF

Lowy is playing games. FIFA need to call his bluff and much Australia out of the World Cup, Asian Cup 2019, ACL, Olymics and all junior representative competitions including a ban on international sides touring Australia.

Lowy will get his wish then - we will be unique.

FFA is structured as a corporation so Aus corporation laws apply and  limits what can be done. Griffith acknowledged that in his recent press release about APFCA "deciding" not to seek a court injunction preventing the AGM, when the reality was they couldn't stop it even if they wanted to .

So even if FIFA did manage to kick-out current board (0which again is questionable under Aus Corporations Law)  they would still need 75% of votes from current congress to change structure so  Lowy's proposition to FIFA would be 80% want this model so if you dont like it, you still wont be able to change it easily.

Also, bear in mind that by the time the AGM is held, we will know if socceroos have made it to Russia, if they dont make it (which is a high risk) FFA could just tell FIFA to buzz off,  and similar to what recently happened in Indonesia, get kicked out for 12 months, sort itself out without FIFA pressure & then be re-admitted with business as usual. 

Below statement sums it up pretty well:
"FFA have a number of duties under the FFA Constitution and Corporations Act, including to act in good faith, in the best interests of the corporation and for a proper purpose.  The directors of FFA must also act in accordance with the objects of the company which are broadly to advance the interests of the whole of the game," an FFA spokesman said. 

It's 9 clubs sharing 4 votes, dressed up in language as being "members" and equating it to one vote one value. Not even a white lie... just a lie

The resolution would increase the Congress membership from 10 to 21. The 21 Members would include the nine Member Federations, the nine Australian Hyundai A-League clubs (sharing four votes between them, up from one vote) and for the first time, Professional Footballers Australia (one vote), a representative of professional women’s football (one vote) and a representative for women’s football at the community level (one vote).


Thats 21, but WP are not represented in the vote..... interesting. #binthenix

Something does not add up in the press release.

The 442 article says the number is going from 10 to 21...thats an increase of 11.. to quote the article """ The resolution would increase the Congress membership from 10 to 21.""

I also read that the proposed offer was ... 

9 State Feds
4 Clubs
1 PFA
1 Womens
1 Special interest group.

Thats 16 ... were is the other 5 ... 

If the 21 is not a typeo then hhhhmmmm guessing, Ref's 1, Coaches 1, Fans 1, Fustal 1,  State Teams 1

I dare say if it is going to 21, the clubs may find it hard to argue against ...

Upon further inspection, the article is an exact copy of the FFA media release

https://www.ffa.com.au/news/ffa-sets-date-congress-expansion-vote

it didnt credit it though. 


Copyright © FourFourTwo Australia . All rights reserved.

"staff writer"

nobody wants to put their name on that fluff piece

Mr Lowy said these changes will be an important first step on a journey the FFA Board believes will see even further expansion of the Congress as the game evolves.

FFA finally sets AGM date to resolve Congress - Australian FourFourTwo