Postecoglou resignation could herald chaos in Australian football with FIFA poised to take over FFA

JUST six months from the World Cup the Socceroos are leaderless and FIFA could take charge of FFA within days. Australian football faces a defining period in its existence.

How can FFA replace Ange Postecoglou if they’re not in charge? AFP Photo / William West

ANGE Postecoglou’s resignation could herald a period of unparalleled chaos at the head of Australian football, with the Socceroos leaderless six months from the World Cup and FIFA potentially taking charge within days.

Questions immediately arose as to who would choose Postecoglou’s successor, following his departure just days after securing qualification for the World Cup.

If agreement for reform of Football Federation Australia’s power structure isn’t reached at its AGM on Thursday next week, FIFA could decide to sweep away the FFA board before Christmas — leaving the Australian game without a chairman, board and national coach.

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CONTENDERS: Who will take Socceroos to Russia?

How can FFA replace Ange Postecoglou if they’re not in charge? AFP Photo / William West

CEO David Gallop said he was in no hurry to appoint a successor to Postecoglou, with the Socceroos not due to play again until March, as FFA considers the right man to take over the side with the World Cup and Asian Cup looming in the next 14 months.

Though Gallop identified Postecoglou as the choice to succeed Holger Osieck four years ago, the appointment was approved by Frank Lowy as FFA chairman.

Steven Lowy, Frank’s son — and successor as FFA chairman — will only play a similar role if he is able to force through his controversial voting reforms at next week’s AGM, and then persuade FIFA to accept them.

Otherwise FIFA is likely to sack him and the current FFA board, and install a so-called “normalisation committee” in its place.

Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin has again asked serious questions about FFA. Photo: Calum Robertson

In that light Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin, acting as spokesman for the A-League clubs, demanded that no coach be appointed until the power struggle was resolved and a new board appointed.

“It would be completely unacceptable and inappropriate for the current board of the FFA to make decisions that impact upon the game going forward in Australia,” Griffin said.

“The decision should be made by a new board of FFA when it is elected, under any new Congress model.

“The current board of FFA are in caretaker mode — it has until November 30 to reach consensus or FIFA had said it will appoint a normalisation committee, and thereafter hold elections for new board.

“That new board is the board that should make the decision because it is of such importance to the football community.”

FIFA is unlikely to act until its own associations committee meets in early December, at which point it will decide whether to intervene in Australia directly.

There is an expectation that FFA’s administration, headed by Gallop, would remain in place to allow the game to function while FIFA appointed a committee to lead it.

Originally published as Postecoglou resignation could herald chaos in Australian football with FIFA poised to take over FFA