FFA looks to block Working Group’s governance proposals

Football Federation Australia (FFA) is looking to block plans for an expanded Congress and for the separation of the management of the A-League - key proposals from a report published by a FIFA-backed review group.

Released this week, the Congress Review Working Group (CRWG) has proposed that the FFA's ruling Congress grows from its current 10-member composition to 29 officials, although this membership does not include the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC).

It also put forward the possibility of the A-League, the top-tier domestic football league in Australia, being spun-off from the FFA from as early as the 2019/20 season.

Both ideas have been strongly rejected by the FFA, with Chairman Steven Lowy claiming they "are not in the best interests of the game and are inconsistent with its guiding principles submitted at the beginning of the process".

However, the proposals, were unanimously approved by the CRWG, which includes FFA board member Chris Nikou.

The AAFC, which represents second tier football clubs seeking to establisn a national A-League second division for men and women, has broadly welcomed the report, with Chairman, Rabieh Krayem stating “AAFC does not agree with the decision not to give us immediate inclusion in the Congress.

“However, the objective of the Working Group was to come up with a workable solution which would allow the game to start addressing the many issues we face. By necessity, when important work like this is done that requires agreement, all parties must compromise and we accept that is the case and are pleased to play our part.

“The important aspect is that we as a football community must face and deal with these issues together, with all stakeholders heading in the same direction with the best interests of the game at heart.

“To that end, AAFC accepts the recommendations of the report as a way forward.

“We also appreciate the fact that the Working Group acknowledges and accepts that AAFC is a properly constituted association with significant runs on the board in our short history, and that, accordingly, our ‘pathway to Congress’ is fast-tracked.”

Krayem said AAFC urges all existing stakeholders to accept the recommendations, adding “we recognise that some other stakeholders might not be satisfied with the report. Of those who have expressed concern, we have empathy for fans, as all of our members are also fans.

“However, we would encourage the Football Supporters’ Association and other special interest groups to embrace the pathways to Congress model and continue to make a positive contribution by being part of the game.”

With an FFA Extraordinary General Meeting scheduled for mid-September likely to reject the proposals, world football governing body FIFA could suspend the FFA.

A suspension by FIFA, or the establishment of a Normalisation Committee, would represent a huge embarrassment.

It could also put Australia's defence of the Asian Cup at risk and affect the nation’s bid to host the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Image: Football NSW National Premier League 2018 season action (top - courtesy of Football NSW) and Rabieh Krayem (below).