FFA vs The Fans: the thread of continued incompetence

Yeah the Out of our A-League podcast were saying that TP woudl be teh man to run an independent A-League and I'd have to agree.

So from what I've read the FFA apologised without apologising, they said "we got it wrong" but then aren't doing anything about it.

So its just an empty apology?

For all that is bad with the FFA, the voice and reason of Tony Pignata is the one that could solve the FFA problems. They need to get rid of Gallop and Lwy Jnr and get this guy in.

I quantify this by suggesting that Tony who has been at two A League clubs now, has built his own reputation as a person to draw fans, players, clubs together for the common good and the positive promotion of the game. 

He was brilliant here at the Nix, always approachable, a voice of reason and gave the time and his ears to fans and what they had to say, complaints, not a problem, he always seemed to come through with an intelligent solution.

The FFA would be fools to ignore what Tony has written. I bet the Cove must be loving having this man in charge of them.

They were pretty angsty when he first joined.But he's been there for a few years now which is unusual for SFC.

Or Anthony Di Pietro.

If you haven't seen his speech at the MVC annual AGM

https://twitter.com/KevinAirs442/status/6718985575...

If Gallop loses the club owners it won't be pretty. I know that the league is not able to exist without FFA in its present shape, but we've been close to owners' revolt in the past.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/op-ed-ffa-are-h...

The FFA insist they can deny access to any fan for any reason they want - whether they give a reason or not if they should wish, comparing it to a bar excluding patrons without any right of appeal.

Yet they are infuriated by fans then exercising their right to withhold their support in stadiums.

(hɪˈpɒkrəsɪ)

n, pl -sies

1. the practice of professing standards, beliefs, etc, contrary to one's real character or actual behaviour, esp thepretence of virtue and piety

2. an act or instance of this

Even before this mess some owners had already told them they had fudgeed up over the Phoenix.  I can imagine they are apopleptic with rage now... except Newcastle of course, oh and Brisbane, and probably Central Coast.

The incoming board must be delighted with the work put in over the last couple of months.

Edit: Or the last year, even. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been any indication of discontent among the constituent federations. If Gallop was in any other business he'd be out on his ear by now.

I imagine Brisbane will be stoked the spotlight isnt on them.

Unfair! Australia voted in referendum that Aborigines were, in fact, human beings, as long ago as 1967.

As good as  Saudi Arabia and Yemen abolishing slavery in 1962. Oman in 1970 and Mauritania in 1981.

Veitch on sport in 5 minutes. Simon Hill being interviewed about this whole FFA vs Fans fiasco.

From The Age 

"Sets of fans that previously had to be separated by lines of security guards, mounted officers and seated at opposite ends of the stadium will sit down at the same table in Sydney on Wednesday...

The union of supporters is the latest development in the bitter fan war with the FFA, led by Western Sydney Wanderers' Red and Black Bloc, Sydney FC's The Cove and North Terrace of Melbourne Victory. The three largest supporter groups will be joined by supporters of the seven other A-League clubs who are travelling from as far as New Zealand and Perth to attend the meeting. Fairfax Media understands the meeting was arranged by, and some travel costs covered by, a third party – in conjunction with some clubs."

2 questions

Who is representing Yellow Fever ?

Who is the third party covering costs ?

Anything decent in it?

Good questions but the whole idea is excellent. Seems like the fans are more organised than the FFA - no surprise there. If fans can get around a table and come out with some constructive ideas, good on them. So much potential for the good.

We were asked to comment today but straight batted it.  Might be more info tomorrow.

Just spoken to Darcy on it (just a warning so you can avoid his show).

I am very surprised how little comment this is getting...

So who is going along to represent us mate?

I wonder if the fever representative can sneak save the nix into the list of demands. 

SteveO or Whooohooo please.

(can we have a poll?)

NZDave.  Come on down.

We had a list of six to try and find two out of but due to various commitments (work, whanau, choir, Ecuador) Dave was the only one who can make it. He'll do a superb job.

The points as raised by the other club are our first priority.  If we can drop a #SaveTheNix t-shirt containing an anvil on Gallop or de Bohun's head without undermining that message and point we will but it's not our first priority.

There is a chairman's meeting earlier in the day and you can bet Rob will be beating the shark out of them at that anyway.

Good to hear that we're at the table at least. Will be very interested to hear what comes out of it.

I can lend him a Stylish Cape to wear to the meeting             

FFA working 24/7 in the background to undermine the meeting.  They really are disingenuous cods of the highest order.

Comment:

1. Fantastic work by the Fever and all concerned to get us there.

2. First priority, as outlined by News above is spot on. Transparent agreed appeals process at the head of that list... FFA speaking up to defend the game and the fans from slurs and smears etc. as well.

3. Outcome MUST be FFA commitment and a timeline and clear deliverables. Not just a vague promise to look into it.

4.. Fully support the other fan groups with whatever the decision is re. continued or not continued boycotts. We should be on the record in our support for them.

As an aside how do you get the cods at the FFA to stop sending you emails about the bloody soccerpoodles or whatever they are called.

Unsubscribe (usually a llink or button at the bottom of email).

I stopped the emails a while ago.

They must have lifted your ban!

#progress

After HN's initial burst can someone ask the FFA what are they going to do to fix their 32 cockups in 18 months? And of course the transparency issue.