An open letter to the FFA

Good points there Bluemagic, but the first battle is to get the licence in place. After all, without a licence the issues of Youth League and ACL participation are irrelevant.

Unfortunately you couldn't resist having a dig in your last point there. I've made the point before that I don't think the Phoenix should have to present themselves as an "Australian" club in order to compete in the A-League and get onside with the AFC. Michael Cockerill makes exactly the same point in his excellent piece in the SMH this morning:

"Last week in Qatar, OFC president Reynald Temarii again met Bin Hammam to plead the case - pointing out the blindingly obvious. As Oceania's only professional club, a situation unique in world football, the Phoenix deserve an exemption."

Dead f**king right. The Phoenix' right to play in the A-League should be seen as just one small way in which FIFA (via the AFC) can help it's smallest and worst-resourced confederation to develop (or even survive). That way there are no shenanigans needed at all. The Phoenix are simply a team based in Oceania that Asia allows to play in one of it's professional competitions. Simple.

You're only 9 tenths right

I can understand NP's concern about this letter perhaps lacking credibilty in the upper echelons of the FFA. But i think the beauty of this letter is its spontaneity and that it is written by a fan and not some "professional" spouting Management-Speak. It shows heart and soul. It would appeal to those in the FFA who still truly love the sport. Which is most of them, I bet. 
Those who don't probably wouldn't be swayed by it either way, unless it suits their aims.

Again, I applaud it.

If we'd been really onto this we could have organised a boycott of the next play-off game unless the FFA offered the Phoenix a new license.

Imagine not just the financial hit but the embarrassment of having one of their play-offs played in front of an empty stadium (oh wait, that's already happened on the Gold Coast!).

Of course, it couldn't possibly work; a) it's already too late and b) I'm not we all have that much self-discipline! (I know I would struggle to avoid the temptation of buying a sneaky ticket and turning up in a fake mo).

It's fun to think about though. All of us standing outside the stadium protesting while the FFA's bean-counters have a collective heart-attack.

Meanwhile the phoenix lose inside the stadium playing in front of no one? No thanks.

Good point. Scratch that then lads!

We can have just as much fun with a few chants and banners maybe?

Hmmm, no response from the FFA yet. They must be too busy counting the money from Sunday or maybe drafting our 10 year license extension?

The A league needs phoenix.

Sorry, didn't realise you only wanted positive feedback

terminator_x2010-02-24 10:12:12

A suggestion: Imagine if the YF mass held up coloured cards that spelt out 'The Phoenix deserve a License and a youth team' in large letters. You could have each card say this message or you could orchestrate it so that each card has a colour that when it's all put together says it in huge lettering. I saw that done by the Munich supporters at the 1999 European Cup final at the Nou Camp and it was stunning. This next playoff game is surely the perfect venue to spell out your demands, particularly if it's full and the FFA is going to trouser $1.5 million or so as a result.

Very well written letter, for sure people will say there are some emotive points but this is written by a true fan not a spin doctor.

Good idea. We talked of this earlier in the season, but this could be the best chance to do it. Full stadium. Don't know if it would be easy to write out something. But with still a week and a half to go, it could be sorted out?

^^
Good idea - it's easy enough to make letters isn't it? Cut them out from white card I presume, and just make sure enough people are happy to orchestrate it.

Given what I know of Yellow Fever I'm sure it would be easy to organise, with the only exception being if there are a lot of visitors in the Zone...

Would this count as Fever doing "tifo" ?


Traitor2010-02-24 19:24:45

BUMP

Hard to believe but still no response from the FFA.

They are probably too busy watching the PAX-o-meter and COUNTING ALL THE F**kING DOLLAR SIGNS!

terminator_x2010-02-26 19:37:28

I guess a few will disagree but I think the case would be so much stronger if NZF were banging on the door of the AFC at the same time as opposed to being happy playing in the little kiddies sandpit that is the OFC.

I must also say that I am surprised Bin Hannam isn't trying to bring the OFC under the AFC's wing a bit in order to win the OFC vote for the next FIFA presidential election. He seems to be thinking regionally instead of globally. Someone should be pointing this out to him.

Dont get to excited just yet its just the first step.Still plenty of talking to be done.I will believe it when its finally down on paper,but still great news to start the week off with.

This. Still waiting for "conditions" yet

Yeah, true Ballane. FFA have always backed us. Its the Asian FA and Bin Hamman that we need to get passed. I also think FIFA are on our side on this. Hopefully sense will prevail.

FIFA has already said that whatever the FFA says, goes, at least in regard to us, and that the AFC can't do jack all to stop it (other than retribution, which is VERY much on the cards). However that article seems to suggest that the FFA have included the need for AFC approval as part of the license extension. Which isn't good.

I would expected FIFA to accept the extension. I would be surprised if AFC ruled against what FIFA decision was.

Bin Hammam isn't FIFA President yet, so he has to be careful he doesn't try his power games too early.

The nix should be allowed to play in A-League and ACL. Etoile FC from France is playing in the S-League next season and they have full ACL accreditation.

Surely the timing significant considering that Bin Hannam visited Sydney last Thu? They must have discussed it, hopefully this is a sign of a face saving measure where AFC approval is included in the process so that Bin Hannam can make a song and dance of approving it for the good of football and then leave us alone.

And if Etoile has full ACL rights then it would be farcical if we didn't, unless Singapore Etoile is officially a separate club from the French one.
SC032010-03-01 16:03:54

french owned but my understanding is that all of the players are asian baased, so a little different I think.

Brilliant.  Lets send it to the Qatar-i as well.

This part of that article should be sent to our Qatari mate too

There are other examples of cross-confederation play, however. This year a French team has been allowed into the Singapore league while the Malaysian Olympic team will play half the season in the Slovakian second division.

Securing the Phoenix's future is a priority for FFA, and it believes it has a good case. Fifa will have the final say and has been sympathetic to the Phoenix's plight in the past, given New Zealand has no professional league of its own. A final decision could take some time.