FFA announces independent review of national football teams

With Football Federation Australia still assessing the impact of the controversial sacking of ex-Matildas coach Alen Stajcic in January, the governing body has appointed a three-person independent panel to review the management of national teams - none of whom has any football background.

Appointed, according to the FFA "to ensure each national team is operating at the highest of standards",  the independent review will assess "the process by which the national teams are managed, including the decision-making processes and the way in which items are reported to the FFA Board."

The review panel consists of former Australia netball captain Liz Ellis; lawyer, former Sydney Olympics bid executive and Deputy Chairman and Trustee of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Rod McGeoch and management consultant and former Basketball Australia Chair, Diane Smith-Gander.

The panel, to be chaired by Smith-Gander, will nvestigate decision-making processes and the way in which items are reported to the FFA board within national teams, undertaking interviews with relevant FFA senior management and national team staff, as well as review of documentation, information and correspondence.

The panel will compile a confidential report and provide findings and recommendations to the FFA Board by the end of October 2019. 

Advising that the FFA Board will consider the report and, where appropriate, will share publicly a summary of the findings and next steps, FFA Chairman, Chris Nikou advised "the decision of the Board to replace Alen Stajcic as the Matildas coach is not under review or subject to review.

"However, the process raised questions for the Board on the manner in which conduct, performance and information are addressed by FFA as an organisation.”

The appointment of the panel follows the Stajcic sacking drama having claimed another FFA executive, with Emma Highwood having set to leave her role as Head of Women's, Football Development and Community Football at the governing body at the end of the month.

Highwood's exit follows David Gallop having announced he will finish up as Chief Executive at the end of the year.

Highwood, leaves FFA after delivering the biggest sports registration database in Australia MyFootballClub, overseeing record participation growth in the sport and also the Aldi Miniroos program.

As Head of Women's Football, it was Highwood who implemented the review process that eventually led Gallop and the FFA board to terminate Stajcic's reign and its subsequent shambolic handling.

Click here for a summary of the terms of reference for the review.