International officials finish talks with Australian football stakeholders

International officials have finished top level talks with Australian football stakeholders but the absence of Steven Lowy at a final all-in meeting has thrown up further questions about the future of the Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman.

Having heard from all vested parties over the course of three days, the three-man FIFA delegation today wrapped up its final day of joint meeting more than three hours early.

They will return to world football’s headquarters in Zurich before stipulating a timeline, composition and mandate for a working group to finally resolve the Australian game's long-standing impasse on governance reform decreed two years ago.

Representatives from the A-League clubs, state federations and players' union, along with two FFA board members, were present at FFA headquarters on Thursday to reiterate their positions on who should get a voice on an expanded congress - the body which elects the FFA board.

The association representing the National Premier League was also there, though special interest groups including coaches, referees, women and fans were not.

Greg Griffin, Chairman of the A-League clubs' umbrella body, the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association, described the exchanges as "refreshingly cordial", a stark contrast to past acrimony.

Parties left the meeting with the impression the world governing body would act swiftly to set up the congress review working group - its softer alternative to sacking the FFA Chairman and board.

During discussions held over the past three days, A-League clubs have warned that elite football competition is at risk of an "impending catastrophic collapse" unless its governance stalemate is resolved.

However, no timetable has been set for reform with some fearing that saga could drag on until the FFA’s annual general meeting in November.

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