Football Federation Australia, fan representatives agree to changes over banning process

FFA CEO David Gallop has promised to make significant changes to the fan banning process and is hopeful they will put an end to their boycott this weekend.

FFA press conference

AFTER what was described as a productive meeting between Football Federation Australia and fan representatives of all 10 A-League clubs, David Gallop has promised to make significant changes to the banning process and is hopeful fans will put an end to their boycott this weekend.

A marathon four-hour meeting was held in Sydney, which was attended by both Gallop and Damien de Bohun, head of the A-League, and an agreement between all parties was reached in principle and was fully endorsed.

“Firstly we will change banning notices to become notices that say they are an intention to ban notice and people will then have an opportunity to view evidence being relied on for the ban,” Gallop said.

“Then if the ban is to be maintained they will still have an opportunity to appeal the ban to an independent panel at a later date.”

Gallop went into the meeting with the proposed changes, which were then robustly discussed.

“They’re changes to the process, but I think they will still allow for the safe atmosphere we’re seeking, but at the same time giving those that are alleged to have conducted themselves in the wrong way an opportunity to see the evidence that’s to be used against them.”

David Gallop had quite the busy day on Wednesday after also meeting with club owners.

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Gallop is confident all parties left the meeting on good terms having discussed a range of issues and he hopes to see the active support groups return to their terraces this weekend.

“That’s a matter for the fan groups themselves, but obviously we’d love to see them back at the football,” he said.

“We’ve said from the start of this they provide a wonderful atmosphere and we’d love to see

them back in the terraces.”

Originally published as Football Federation Australia, fan representatives agree to changes over banning process