FIFA sanction fears as federal government weighs in on FFA war
THE fight for control of Australian football has taken a new twist amid allegations of government involvement of the sort expressly banned by FIFA.
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THE fight for control of Australian football has taken a new twist amid allegations of government involvement of the sort expressly banned by FIFA.
A day before major reforms to widen the franchise at the head of the game are due to be submitted for an extraordinary general meeting, the major government agency for sport has written a letter warning of unspecified “concerns” over the reforms, and calling for them to be “worked through in good time and in good faith”.
The letter, to members of the FIFA-backed Congress Review Working Party, appears to contravene FIFA’s Article 15 which insists its member associations must “be neutral in terms of politics and religion … [and] independent and avoid any form of political interference”.
It’s understood that Sport Australia has been warned by at least one recipient that it risks breaching Article 15.
FIFA has often taken a hard line on perceptions of political interference, suspending countries such as Kuwait and Pakistan and only this year warning Spain and Nigeria that they faced a similar threat.
In the letter from Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer to members of the Congress Review Working Group, the federal government’s interest in the CRWG’s reforms is noted and Palmer promises to publish a “detailed and public statement in regard to our view of the report … next week”.
The CRWG’s blueprint, put together by a coalition of A-League clubs, members associations, the players union and an FFA director, have already been approved by FIFA as a way to close more than two years of bitter infighting over the balance of power at the head of the sport.
The majority of the state associations, the clubs, the union and representatives of the women’s game have backed the reforms, but FFA chairman Steven Lowy has said he will stand down if they are passed.
Sport Australia’s intervention comes just a day before a FIFA-set deadline to call an EGM to approve the reforms, with four of the nine associations still refusing to commit to support them.
If three vote against, the reforms will fail, which would invoke the possibility of FIFA suspending Australia or appointing a “normalisation” committee to run the sport.
It’s understood that Sport Australia made a submission to the CRWG during its deliberations, and received a copy of the final blueprint more than a month ago.
The CRWG’s report has been opposed by the FFA board, claiming its independence will be diminished. Under the planned reforms, the professional game would get a far greater say in the running of football.
Sport Australia has been approached for comment.