Aussie Strength
We are Aussie Strength. The ultimate supplier for Commercial Gym Equipment that's built to deliver in the toughest environments. From USA-Built hardcore weight training equipment from Arsenal…
read moreA-League clubs have warned delegates representing world football governing body FIFA that elite football in Australia is at risk of an "impending catastrophic collapse" unless the stalemate surrounding the sport’s governance is settled.
Meeting a visiting FIFA/AFC delegation today, representatives of the A-League clubs presented an agenda extending far beyond the make-up of the FFA congress that has affected the domestic game over the last for two years.
FIFA representatives Nodar Akhalkatsi and Luca Nicola, and the Asian Football Confederation's Ravi Kumar returned to Sydney to begin talks to set up a congress review working group –an alternative to sacking FFA Chairman Steven Lowy and his board and the appointment of a FIFA 'normalisation committee'.
Proposing that FFA be banned from the working group, the A-League representatives suggested it has an independent chair and consist of three state member federations, two A-League clubs and one players' union representative, with special interest groups to be consulted.
In addition, the clubs want FIFA to widen the working group's mandate to include other issues such as FFA's appeal processes and its financial transparency.
On the latter point they have pressing concerns regarding FFA's unwillingness to share records related to the controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup bid.
Furthermore, the clubs have challenged FFA's existence as a 'corporate' entity able to utilise Australian Corporations Law, as opposed to an 'association' as per FIFA statutes.
Overall they were adamant the current landscape of slumping crowds and TV ratings presented an apocalyptic threat to the professional game if the impasse was not solved in the coming months.
A statement from the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association advised "for the professional game the consequences of the continuance of the status quo are dire.
"All critical commercial metrics associated with the professional game are in decline and our ability to arrest that trend is completely blocked by the congress issue.
"Professional clubs stand on the brink of joining the nine club administrations that have already become insolvent in the first 14 years of the A-League.
"There are clear symptoms of a potential impending catastrophic collapse of the professional game in Australia and these can be directly linked to the governance issue at hand."
It comes less than a week after the FFA revived the prospect of A-League expansion, a move critics believe amounts to little more than posturing but for which the governing body says it's committed to providing criteria next month.
On Tuesday the delegation met with Professional Footballers Australia, the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), referees, coaches, women's football and fans.
Rabieh Krayem, Chairman of the AAFC, which represents clubs pushing for an A-League second division, stated after the meeting that “the good news for our member clubs is that FIFA and the AFC understand that the clubs we represent are a critical part of the football ecosystem, that we are a stakeholder in this game, and we are not going away.”
Image: Western Sydney Wanderers fans at ANZ Stadium.
19th February 2018 - FFA LOOKS FOR A-LEAGUE EXPANSION IN 2019/20 SEASON
6th February 2018 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES $4 MILLION FOR FFA’S WOMENS WORLD CUP BID
1st February 2018 - FFA LAUNCHES NEW ESPORT LEAGUE
21st January 2018 - REVELATIONS FROM FORMER FFA EXECUTIVE SET TO REOPEN 2018 AND 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP HOSTING CONTROVERSY
13th December 2017 - WESTFIELD MATILDAS AND SAM KERR TOP AIS SPORT PERFORMANCE AWARDS
7th December 2017 - FFA BOARD AVOIDS DISMISSAL AS FIFA AGREES TO LEAD STAKEHOLDER NEGOTIATIONS
30th November 2017 - REFORM MODEL REJECTED AT FFA CONGRESS: POTENTIAL THAT FIFA WILL ADMINISTER FOOTBALL IN AUSTRALIA
17th November 2017 - NEW AUSPLAY FIGURES SHOW FOOTBALL LEADS SPORT PARTICIPATION RATES IN AUSTRALIA
27th October 2017 - ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL CLUBS REVEALS PLANS FOR NATIONAL SECOND DIVISION COMPETITION
12th September 2017 - LANDMARK PAY RISE FOR WOMEN FOOTBALLERS
31st August 2017 - FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE IN CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
10th August 2017 - FIFA EXECUTIVES LEAVE AUSTRALIA WITHOUT NO GOVERNANCE DEAL
28th July 2017 - A-LEAGUE CLUBS CALL ON FFA TO OPEN UP ACCOUNTS GOING BACK TO FIFA WORLD CUP BID
16th July 2017 - AAFC BOARD KICKS OF PLAN FOR NATIONAL EXPANSION OF FFA COMPETITIONS
9th July 2017 - ONGOING GOVERNANCE DISPUTE SEES FIFA THREATEN TO TAKE OVER RUNNING OF FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA
Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.
However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.
Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.
Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.
Click here to subscribe.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
We are Aussie Strength. The ultimate supplier for Commercial Gym Equipment that's built to deliver in the toughest environments. From USA-Built hardcore weight training equipment from Arsenal…
read moreGoplay designs and manufactures specialised playground equipment for indoor play centres, hotels, food chains, clubs and resorts. If our years of experience and dedication have taught us one thing,…
read moreCrystal Pools has a solid history of performance on a wide variety of government and commercial projects and is the name behind many of Australia’s most innovative and ambitious aquatic…
read moreAflex Inflatables are the leaders for obstacle courses, pool toys, waterparks and land-based watersides and fitness runs. They are industry leaders offering the widest range of pool, lake and beach…
read moreMETRA Australia is your innovation partner for smart electronic locking, Access Control solutions and cashless payment systems to suit all types of leisure facilities. Our team’s…
read moreRegupol Australia Pty Ltd offers a comprehensive range of recycled rubber fitness and leisure flooring surfaces. Their range of products include everroll rubber flooring, Regupol elastic…
read morePrincipal Consultant Simon Weatherill has spent the last 20 years developing the world renowned Melbourne Sports Hub, as former Chief Executive Officer of the State Sports Centres Trust…
read moreGeoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) is a structural, aquatic and civil engineering consultancy with broad experience in the design of new municipal and institutional swimming pools, hydrotherapy…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!