Football festers in state of flux

While the FFA squabble over petty politics, fans just want what is good for the game.

Socceroos member Tim Cahill kisses the Asian Cup trophy. Picture: AAP

Seriously, enough is enough.

Now well over three years since world governing body FIFA first made a move in regards to the make up of Football Federation Australia’s congress, the game is still in a state of flux as self interest and egos continue to get in the way of what is right for the future and well being of the sport.

The latest developments regarding attempts to undermine the recommendations of the Congress Review Working Committee are a case in point.

Just when you think the game might be making some headway you have certain groups, allegedly with the help of FFA, trying to derail a proper, well meaning, well thought out process — agreed by all the parties — that has been put into place with the betterment of the sport in mind.

It is madness and smacks of self preservation.

In my 46 years in journalism, some 40 years of it covering this great sport of ours, I have seen many ups and downs, many moments and decisions that have defied logic and wanted me to bang my head against a brick wall in utter frustration.

This is one of those times.

How much time has been wasted on all of this when it should have been sorted out long ago?

Instead, we still have the bickering and egos at work when we should have been way down the track in fixing the things wrong with our game like improving our youth development and getting our national youth teams (under 17s and under 20s) back to a competitive stage on the international stage, the stagnant A-League, bringing in an A-League second division and getting rid of the exorbitant fees parents have to pay for their kids to play our sport.

As usual, our leaders, and I include the FFA, the member federations and the A-League clubs, have taken their eyes off the ball while they play their little games.

Maybe they should listen to the real people for a change.

The grassroots, the life blood of the sport here, is sick and tired of what is happening. They don’t care about the petty politics, the egos and the back door deals. They want what is good for the sport.

It is to be hoped that the recommendations from the CRWC, which have been sent to FIFA and will be released later this month, are accepted and adhered to when the FFA stakeholders meet early next month.

If not then FIFA must move.

As embarrassing as it would be, then FIFA’s serious threat to kick out the FFA board and bring in a normalisation committee to ram the changes through is clearly the best option for Australian soccer to move forward.

If all those playing their silly games can’t see that and come together as one for a change then the introduction of a normalisation committee can’t come quick enough.