Government review recommends key ways to fix football

The keenly awaited Federal Government report into football in Australia has recommended key ways to improve the game in this country.
The report, Building Australia's Football Community: A review into the Sustainability of Football' (the 'Smith Review') led by Australian Sports Commission Chairman Warwick Smith, has lauded the Football Federation Australia (FFA)'s achievements since the last Government report, the 2003 Crawford Report, which led to the former Soccer Australia being transformed into the FFA and the establishment of the A-League.
The report also hailed the vast improvement in the Socceroos who have soared in FIFA world rankings from 86th to 22nd while qualifying for the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups.
During that time football has also its participation rates increase from 1.1 million to 1.7 million while this season's A-League crowds are up 52% on last year's average while TV ratings have improved by 74%.
The Smith Review states "these positives around the game are significant,"adding "the FFA Board and its administration must be credited for bringing the game such a long way forward from where it was immediately preceding the Crawford Review."
The report also backed the FFA's failed 2022 World Cup despite the criticism when Australia picked up just one vote at the final tally and lost out to Qatar.
Here it states "the bid to host this event was ambitious, yet strong and credible.
"It is important to remember that despite the criticism FFA and the bid have received since Qatar was announced as host (and questions remain about the integrity of the process); the bid was technically excellent and had strong, bipartisan government support.
"Other bids which were also seen to be of superior technical quality were similarly unsuccessful.
"Nonetheless, the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup bid process has created opportunities to refocus on the game domestically."
The report goes on to provide advice for the governance of the 2015 Asian Cup which provides a great opportunity for the future of football in Australia.
Crucially, the Smith Review includes a series of recommendations designed to help make football financially sustainable into the future, including maximising revenues, reducing costs and consolidating on the current strengths of the game. These include:
ï¾ Creating opportunities for A-League clubs and owners to contribute to the decision making and strategic direction of the A-League;
ï¾ Looking at options to reduce costs, including at head office, player salaries and stadiums; and
ï¾ Continuing to invest in grassroots, Indigenous and women's football, given their strategic importance in maintaining participation rates and promoting the game.
The review has been welcomed by key stakeholders including Federal Minister for Sport Mark Arbib, the FFA and the Professional Football Australia (PFA).
Senator Arbib stated that the "FFA has achieved a huge amount for football in Australia including record levels of participation, capitalising on the success of the Socceroos and Matildas and building the quality of the A-league but there are still challenges for football in this country and as this report makes clear financial stability must be the key priority for FFA and the A-League.
"(Warwick) Smith and his review team undertook more than 50 consultations with stakeholders including state and territory federations, A-League clubs, commentators and others who have been involved with the game."
The FFA issued a press statement saying that it "accepted the 11 recommendations made in the report" with Chairman Frank Lowy stating "The Smith Review had the task of examining the structure, governance and administration of football in Australia and I can tell you it was no easy job given the scale and scope of activities undertaken by FFA.
"We are doing more, for more people, with fewer resources than any other Australian mainstream sport. The report brings a fresh insight t

http://www.dpmc.gov.au/sport/resources/reports/football_review.cfm