FIFA/AFC meeting with fan groups - joint statement

YF Spend Up
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over 12 years

On Tuesday, there was a meeting between the FIFA delegation currently in Sydney as part of the FFA congress reforum process and representatives of fan groups from around the A-League. Dave Richardson was the Yellow Fever representative at the meeting, who flew to Sydney to attend.

The following is a joint statement from all the supporter clubs from around the league.

Yesterday representatives of Fans from CCM, Sydney FC, WSW and Wellington attended a meeting with FIFA, AFC and FFA representatives to provide a fans perspective on the FFA and the state of the game in Australia. Also in attendance were representatives of Football Supporters Australia, a new Fan advocacy group. The FFA requested that clubs nominate attendees for this meeting which some did not do, that combined with the late notice and daytime weekday scheduling meant that not all A-League clubs fans were represented directly.

Those in attendance took the opportunity to describe in detail the state of fan relations with the FFA and the absence of any effort historically by the FFA to engage in good faith with fans. The unwillingness of the FFA to support fans when attacked by sections of the media presenting false narratives and a lack of concern for the value that fans bring to the game in decision-making were highlighted.

Fans collective frustration and disappointment in their dealings with the FFA were made clear and in many cases careful framing of the often unique circumstances that Australian football operates in was required to help FIFA and AFC representatives understand why leadership and engagement from the FFA is vitally important. The relative immaturity of A-League clubs and the position of football as 4th most popular spectator sport with an often hostile media were covered in particular.

The value of the exercise remains to be seen, but the representatives in attendance made it clear that fans need a voice in the 'new model' FFA congress and that the continued failure of the FFA to engage, consider and respect the role of fans in the Australian game must change.

One in a million
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The Fever wrote:

On Tuesday, there was a meeting between the FIFA delegation currently in Sydney as part of the FFA congress reforum process and representatives of fan groups from around the A-League. Dave Richardson was the Yellow Fever representative at the meeting, who flew to Sydney to attend.

The following is a joint statement from all the supporter clubs from around the league.

Yesterday representatives of Fans from CCM, Sydney FC, WSW and Wellington attended a meeting with FIFA, AFC and FFA representatives to provide a fans perspective on the FFA and the state of the game in Australia. Also in attendance were representatives of Football Supporters Australia, a new Fan advocacy group. The FFA requested that clubs nominate attendees for this meeting which some did not do, that combined with the late notice and daytime weekday scheduling meant that not all A-League clubs fans were represented directly.

Those in attendance took the opportunity to describe in detail the state of fan relations with the FFA and the absence of any effort historically by the FFA to engage in good faith with fans. The unwillingness of the FFA to support fans when attacked by sections of the media presenting false narratives and a lack of concern for the value that fans bring to the game in decision-making were highlighted.

Fans collective frustration and disappointment in their dealings with the FFA were made clear and in many cases careful framing of the often unique circumstances that Australian football operates in was required to help FIFA and AFC representatives understand why leadership and engagement from the FFA is vitally important. The relative immaturity of A-League clubs and the position of football as 4th most popular spectator sport with an often hostile media were covered in particular.

The value of the exercise remains to be seen, but the representatives in attendance made it clear that fans need a voice in the 'new model' FFA congress and that the continued failure of the FFA to engage, consider and respect the role of fans in the Australian game must change.


It doesnt sound very promising
Early retirement
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34K
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about 17 years

If the end goal is Gallop and Lowy gone, the A-League controlling their own destiny and the FFA treating supporters as stakeholders then at least getting the ear of AFC and FIFA is a step further than we were last week.

Whether FIFA will actually act to force the FFA into a more appropriate model is the question.  They have so far backed down from committing to this which is a shame and has left the clubs in a holding pattern all season.

LG
Legend
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23K
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over 16 years

That was a good statement to release. A bit between the lines to think about and obviously the FFA have over the years chosen to ignore it. HN also makes a very valid summisation which leads this writer to believe..."If only" would be appropriate.

Trialist
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over 15 years
Independent chair to lead eight-member panel that aims to fix FFA
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  • An independent chairperson will lead an eight-member panel that has been tasked by FIFA with fixing the broken governance structures of Football Federation Australia.

    FIFA finally delivered its terms of reference for the ‘‘congress review working group’’ yesterday afternoon, several weeks after its self-imposed deadline.

    The working group will include four representatives of the state federations, two from the A-League clubs, one from Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and one FFA board member.

    They will decide who is the chairperson. FIFA, however, has instructed that the person must have a strong track record in legal and governance issues, preferably in sport, and experience in mediation and negotiation.

    If the group cannot settle on a chairperson, FIFA will make the appointment. It will be the chair’s responsibility to ensure the working group fulfils its mandate: to determine a new structure for the FFA congress that includes a ‘‘broader and more balanced’’ representation of stakeholders, and bring the governing body in line with FIFA’s statutes.

    The group will take into account other issues, including the governance model of the A-League, with clubs keen to take over the running of the ailing competition from FFA, as well as the composition and independence of the FFA board. Throughout, it will seek input from the Association of Australian Football Clubs – the newly formed representative body of NPL clubs – and Women’s Onside, a lobby group seeking to increase women’s involvement in the governance of the sport.

    The A-League clubs, FFA, state federations and the PFA have been locked in a bitter power struggle for the past 18 months over what a reformed congress should look like, prompting the intervention from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

    The working group has been ordered to deliver its proposal to FIFA and the AFC by July 31, which must be submitted by September 7 at a special general FFA meeting.

    "FFA supports expansion of the congress to reflect the evolution of football in Australia and balance the interests of each part of the game," FFA chairman Steven Lowy said.

    "This should include significant movement towards gender equality at all levels of governance.

    "FFA also welcomes the reference to governance of the A-League because we want to work with the clubs and other stakeholders on a new ownership and operating model for the league that will benefit the whole of the game."

    FIFA/AFC meeting with fan groups - joint statement

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