The Congress is more like the Electoral College in the USA than like our parliament if you want to draw comparisons, but both have their votes on record.

One of the questions raised by many after #FFAvotes on Monday was just who voted for whom.

Some commentators have criticised those on #sokkahtwitter who dared to ask the question. Their rationale is that we have a secret ballot when we vote for Members of Parliament (MPs), so why should the FFA Congress members share their vote?

But those who spruik that line miss the point.

First, the Congress is like football's 'Parliament' to use FIFA's own terminology. In this country at least, how it works is we vote for our MPs and, once elected, we know how they vote on every single vote in that Parliament as it is published in Hansard which is free for everyone to scrutinise. That is how we hold our MPs accountable. 

If we continue the analogy, the Board is like the Cabinet. We do not know how individuals vote, because Cabinet solidarity is key, and Board solidarity is a requirement of the Corporations Act.

Second, the Congress members are not there because they're the only people in Australia involved in football. They represent our interests as the temporary custodians of the game.

The view that state member federations do not necessarily represent their broad base of stakeholders is what led to the establishment of AAFC in March 2017. It has also resulted in some journalists, volunteers and fans now calling for a complete overhaul of the structure of football, including of state federations. 

Ray Gatt

✔@Gatty54

This is the same sentiment I have been suggesting. It is the way to go. Get rid of state federations and bring in management teams working under the FFA umbrella.

Mike Tuckerman@Mike_Tuckerman

"If Nikou wants to draw a line in the stand, he should start with a root and branch clean-out of the state federations who continue to obstruct the game’s progress at every turn," via @TheRoarSports #aleague

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8:07 AM - Nov 23, 2018

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Football does not belong to the FFA Congress. 

No doubt the A-League clubs would see themselves differently from this, because they are privately owned. However, as we noted in respect of the e-mail campaign, A-League clubs should take account of their paying members, paying attendees, and people who pay to buy their merchandise. 

Third, the Congress Review Working Group (CRWG) report, which was accepted by the former FFA Congress in October, made much of the fact that we now have a new era of democracy, transparency and accountability - the catch-cry words of #NewFIFANow in respect of FIFA and football reform.

We were always sceptical of just how much that applied in this case, and referred to the CRWG report as 'reform lite'. Nonetheless, it was better than what we had. We already know when it comes to democracy that the new Congress is an expanded version of the previous FFA Congress, with two more stakeholder groups, and with no single group having veto power on most matters, but with the majority rule still in the hands of the state federations.

To recap, the votes were distributed as follows:

• A-League clubs: 28 (3.11 each)
• State member federations:  55 (6.11 each)
• PFA:  7
• Women's Council:  10

So how about transparency? We thought we would put the FFA Congress to the test. 

Like many, we were intrigued by some of the voting outcomes. For example:

• How could Mark Shield be nominated and seconded by two state member federations (Tasmania and the ACT) and not receive at least 12.22% of votes, as did Daniel Moulis, who was nominated by the same two federations?
• If Morry Bailes received 25.44%, then he must have been supported by at least four state member federations in addition to the two that nominated him (South Australia and Victoria), as well as a Women's Council vote.
• The vote for Chris Nikou suggests that he received support from all A-League clubs, at least five state member federations, the PFA and three Women's Council members (presumably those on the Boards of Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC and the staff member of Melbourne City). 
• Heather Reid romped it in as one of the two women candidates after Judith Grigg's withdrawal, but there was one state member federation and one A-League club that didn't support her.

We wrote to each of the A-League clubs, the state member federations and the PFA to ask them on the record:

• Who did they vote for in the first round of voting for the four Board members?
• Who did they prefer for Chairman between Chris Nikou and Joseph Carrozzi? (This was a decision of the Board once it was formed).
• How did they vote in respect of the Constitutional change related to AAFC's 'fast-tracked' membership? The amendment was denied, even though the Congress had agreed to it last month by accepting the CRWG report. Even more curious, on a show of hands, this vote was close: approximately 65-35, but when the ballot was concluded, it turned out to be 54-46. Either some people didn't know what they were voting for, or they 'turned' when the ballot was secret. 

We also added an additional question for some. For example, we asked Tasmania and ACT state presidents why they didn't vote for Mark Shield, whom they had nominated. 

This is what we received. We make no comment on the substance or quality of the responses but let readers judge for themselves.

PFA

PFA CEO, John Didulica, apparently took the question literally as "you" meaning him, rather than "you" the PFA of which he is CEO. He wrote:

"The person who voted on behalf of the Players' Member was Kathryn Gill, not me, as you refer to below. My one (1) vote was cast as proxy for Alex Wilkinson. Given the entire AGM was live streamed and also announced on our social media platforms, I would assume that you would have been aware of this."

We saw the graphic put out by the PFA's Twitter account about who was voting, but we cannot find one which says who they PFA voted for. 

AAFC

Didulica did not respond to this question.

Women's Council Chair

We also specifically asked the PFA about the Independent Chair of the Women's Council.

Didulica confirmed that the PFA nominated two candidates for the role: Heather Reid and Kerry Harris on Heather Reid's suggestion. (It's worth noting that, while the PFA made much of announcing their nomination of Craig Foster and Heather Reid for the Board, they made no such announcement of their nominees for the Independent Chair of the Women's Council).

Didulica wrote: "As it evolved, Heather's nomination [for the Board] looked increasingly likely to succeed and she subsequently advised me that she wished to withdraw her nomination." 

This is consistent with Craig Foster's view that deals were being done in relation to the Board election, and was confirmed by Reid in messages to some supporters, indicating that she knew she had it 'won' before the annual general meeting. 

Didulica also confirmed that the eventual appointee to the role of Women's Council Chair, Ros Moriarty, was approached to nominate after the FFA Nominations Committee was in session to consider the nominees. In other words, Moriarty's nomination was not received in accordance with a timeframe that had previously been proposed, but it was fast-tracked into the process (and we use that term loosely) to ensure there was a more 'palatable' nominee than other candidates.

Football NSW

The Chairman of Football NSW responded to say that he would put it to his Board whether they wanted to respond.

"To be honest, I think we all just want to move on, get back to spending more time leading our organisations (FNSW) and let the new FFA chair and board do the same. I’ll return to your query once I’ve received some kind of consensus from my colleagues."

Perth Glory

The Chairman of Perth Glory, Tony Sage, replied that he voted for the four new Board members (Joseph Carrozzi, Chris Nikou, Remo Nogarotto and Heather Reid); that he supported the Constitutional change in respect of AAFC; and he wanted Nikou to be Chairman.

Sage also told us that he felt "relief" at the outcome, that there "is no more fighting", and that it's such a change from this time three years ago.

Sage deserves a 10/10 for his willingness to be transparent and accountable for his vote, which comes on top of pouring $130 million plus of his own money into Perth Glory since 2005. 

Queensland, Northern NSW, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, NT, Brisbane Roar, Newcastle Jets, Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United

More than 100 hours since they were asked, no response has been received. 

We thank the PFA, NSW and Perth Glory for responding. 

An informed, intelligent, independent and robust media has a duty to the sport to hold it accountable, in the best interests of the game. Accountability and 'metrics' are not just about games played, goals scored, cards issued and numbers of injuries, but genuine democracy, transparency and accountability in the sport's governance structures, including and especially Congress members.

We wish the new Board members all the best in their important work in helping to advance football. 

After members first voted to endorse the Congress Review Working Group’s recommendation to accept the Association of Australian Football Clubs as qualifying members of congress, they then voted against the recommendation to backdate the qualifying period for AAFC’s membership to the date of the organisation’s foundation. The passage of that motion was reportedly obstructed by the member federations publicly opposed to the CRWG findings. There are some uneasy bedfellows at the top of football’s pyramid and the new board has its work cut out establishing a unity of purpose.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/nov/20/ffas-new-board-has-its-work-cut-out-establishing-unity-of-purpose?CMP=soc_568

Tasmania and ACT nominated Mark Rendell

The mysteriously he drops out on the day

Tasmania and ACT nominated Mark Shield, then didn't vote for him

Manipulative Kunts

Well, let's hope the other board members pull him in line. 

http://footballtoday.news/football-media-watch/tim-cahill-socceroos-lebanon-ffa-board-sam-kerr

All this political stuff is too "crazy" for Ray Gatt. His piece from the annual general meeting here ($) giving details of the vote, and a later piece after the Board's election ($) of the Chairman.

In case you missed it, the new Board now comprises:

• Chris Nikou, Chairman
• Heather Reid, Deputy Chairman
• Joseph Carrozzi
• Crispin Murray
• Remo Nogarotto
• Kelly Bayer Rosmarin

Nikou, of course, is another remnant of the old Board, re-joining Murray and Rosmarin, but he is already "drawing a line in the sand". He says the Board's first priority is A-League expansion which will be music to the ears of many, if not all, in the football fraternity. 

Dominic Bossi refers to Nikou as the "peacemaker" and an "assauging listener" and says that the election of Nikou, the grand "football intellect" Heather Reid, and Remo Nogarotto to the Board are evidence that even the 'stakeholders' (that is, the voting stakeholders) want "football people" on the Board, contrary to Steven Lowy's assertion that that is a "naive" argument. 

Tom Smithies picks up on our article of Sunday that the new faces are not really new faces, by noting that "football's future isn't exactly revolutionary". Like Gatt and Nikou and Carozzi, Smithies would like to see less focus on football politics and more on the football. 

Memo to mainstream media journalists and Board members: the small group of people who focus on football politics do so because it's of interest and a concern to them, and they have every right to be so engaged. 

In response to a question from us on Saturday, Piet Van der Pol explained to the local paper that he gave his proxy to Anthony Di Pietro of Melbourne Victory because he is overseas.  

The Canberra local paper refers to Reid's election as a "landslide" which it undeniably was with almost 91% of the vote. It came after the longtime Company Secretary reminded the voters of the requirement for at least a tilt to gender equity in their voting decisions, as per the new Constitution.

Lots of speculation about Nickou. But no actual sourced information. The new board will be judged on their decisions. It looks like a pretty good mix of people with different opinions and expertise from the outside.

He never flat out denied it. Then when other posters started catching on to the fact it may be him he did a runner. Im pretty sure he was in favour of the rebranded npl being made up entirely of new franchises.

Word from the other night was that when Foster was running down the NCIP Nikou could be seen shaking his head. Would fit his character.

This guy would be more likely to scrap the ffa cup before even remotely considering a 2nd division.

Their current agreement was minor extensions of 4 years to the end of 19/20 season and then 3 years til the end of the 22/23 season and then another 3 years until the 25/26 season dependent on meeting various metrics. However that will most likely completely change when the HAL becomes independent next year. Wellington cannot be given the boot before the end of the 19/20 season (unless they pull a Palmer/Tinkler). The only way I see them leaving is selling the license once the league is independent. Alternatively it will be in the distant future when/if P&R eventuates.

does the nix have a friend on the board?

When will we know about Wellingtons 10 year licence? and the metrics.

I read those comments. Pretty disgraceful if true. But was it confirmed it was him and how?

Australia City has a nice ring to it.  Would definitely make us stand out at the next World Cup (that's assuming City group allows funding of the national team). 

They all were silent on the NCIP disgrace though regardless of their heritage.  I've read on Twitter & I don't know how true it is that our new Chairman is hostile to traditional clubs. Time will tell though & I wonder if any our footballing media have the balls to ask any of the new board members about it.  

Carozzi.

Who Nikou?  

And can still keep his Chinese Development cash as well

Wonder if Foz has had his cheque cleared yet.

Simon Pearce of City Football Group is the most powerful figure in Australian soccer  
 November 19, 2018

The most powerful figure in Australian soccer now is an English-born former public relations and communications executive whose day job is to “protect and enhance the reputation” of the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi.

Simon Pearce, the vice-chairman of A-League club Melbourne City and a special adviser to the executive affairs authority running Abu Dhabi, has been instrumental in driving corporate governance changes behind the scenes that today will install four new directors to the Football Federation Australia board and bring an end to the 15-year reign of first Frank and then Steven Lowy.

Pearce’s influence has grown rapidly in Australian soccer. A member of the nominations committee charged with finding new FFA board members, he is also a board member of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and part of the City Football Group that includes Manchester and Melbourne City, New York City FC and Yokohama F Marinos.

Melbourne City have backed the nominations of two of the four likely candidates to fill the vacant FFA board roles, Chris Nikou and Remo Nogorotto, as revealed by The Australian on Friday, while Pearce is also understood to have been a strong advocate of another likely candidate in former Labor senator Stephen Conroy, a Melbourne City fan and ambassador. City have also backed the nomination of an emerging board contender in Linda Norquay, the chief financial officer of Lachlan Murdoch’s Illyria.

He is also said to have backed Judith Griggs, the author of a report for FIFA recommending governance changes in Australia, who subsequently nominated for the FFA board. But Griggs, a one-time Formula One executive, withdrew last week citing a lack of soccer experience and international business commitments.

Pearce has led the charge for an independent A-League modelled along the lines of the EPL, moving for governance change that is both in line with FIFA statutes and gave A-League clubs more voting power regarding the FFA board — which resulted in Steven Lowy resigning his role in August, a move that will be made official at today’s FFA annual meeting.

Lowy had argued in vain he stood in the way of the clubs getting more control at board level and therefore the purse strings of the sport, potentially starving national teams and junior development programs of funds.

Pearce had earlier helped carve out deals with the NSW and Victorian state federations to enact the governance change, also in concert with the Professional Players Association, run by former CFG employee John Didulica. Under Pearce’s leadership at Melbourne City, the club have won an FFA Cup and invested about $40 million in their Australian operations, recouping a major part of the funds via the sales of players like Aaron Mooy and Daniel Arzani via Manchester City.

CFG has become a global football powerhouse under chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak with Manchester City at the forefront of a billion-dollar spending revolution that has brought trophies, such as last season’s EPL, and fans around the world. Pearce has been a part of that success with his role in the recently published book on the rise of Manchester City and CFG, Killing the Game, described as “to protect and enhance the reputation of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the eyes of the world” as the head of strategic communications for the government there.

He has also recently been embroiled in allegations around English Premier League giants Manchester City, where he is a director, and allegations of circumventing financial regulations via the payment of sponsorships by companies connected to the club’s Abu Dhabi owner and the backdating of other financial agreements — both not allowed under European football’s financial fair play.

“We can do what we want,” was one damning quote attributed to Pearce in documents obtained by German publication Der Spiegel, and while Manchester City have said little publicly, they have stated the allegations are part of a “clear and organised” attempt to tarnish their reputation.

Pearce did not return calls from The Australian and other football identities were reluctant to talk about him on the record. One though did say “Simon is doing everything with the best interests of Australian football in mind” and another added: “He is just one part of a voting bloc and Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC have increased their influence … while Simon has had to pull back due to the controversy in Europe.

”Born in London, the 47-year-old Pearce was a communication executive who ran the Sydney office of global PR firm Burson-Marsteller. He left Australia in 2006 for Abu Dhabi, where he became director of strategic affairs and later entered the football world when the Abu Dhabi Group for Development and Investment bought Manchester City in 2008.

Manchester City have gone on to become an outstanding success on the field in the decade under their majority Abu Dhabi ownership. Melbourne City, meanwhile, played before a home crowd of less than 7000 last weekend. But they have also found interesting ways to grow their business off the field, Pearce has ensured the club is winning the competition handsomely. 

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/simon-pearce-of-city-football-group-is-the-most-powerful-figure-in-australian-soccer/news-story/747ee3c883e8eabf124ff0d97eba81a6

So let me get this right- this place wanted football people but not football people associated to lowy but lowy has been football so if they’re football they’ll be associated to lowy.

Save yourselves $15m and more embarrassment

Surely South will be pulling the A league bid now on the back of the many disgraceful statements this man made about the club on a public football forum a couple of years back. Great to have Mr Melbourne Renegades running the game..NOT.

Lowy rep on the CRWG committee creating the CRWG recommendations

Part of the Board that then objected to the CRWG recommendations

Definitely a bit of ambiguity there, his recent actions are a bit mixed in that regard.

Heather Reid, former head the Canberra federation, is now deputy chair, and you'd have to think that she was a Lowy supporter the whole way through.

You wonder if she is going to push extra hard for Canberra to get one of the next licenses.

Only been passively following the FFA votes stuff.

Wouldn’t a Chris Nikou regime simply be Lowy-lite?

yeah, with the evil Dr Lowy out of the way now and this new board, the sky is the limit !

Thank goodness.  Now that the City Group control all of Football in Australia we can strive for the heady heights of Melbourne City.  'Roos to play in sky blue!

Wow, the new board looks amazing...I can’t hardly wait....