Craig Foster proud to serve football by standing for FFA board

Craig Foster has long championed the cause of Australian soccer.

Craig Foster with SBS soccer presenter Lucy Zelic.

As a high-profile television personality and someone with considerable skin in the game, Craig Foster has long championed the cause of Australian soccer using his strong media presence, but now he is ready to back up his words with action, following his nomination for a position on the new-look board of Football Federation Australia.

As revealed yesterday morning but only confirmed yesterday afternoon, the former Socceroo is one of a reported 15 nominations for the four vacant positions that will be voted on at an FFA AGM early next month.

Along with former Capital Football chief executive Heather Reid, Foster was put forward by Professional Footballers Australia, an organisation he once served as chief executive and chairman over the years.

Foster, who has a heavy involvement in the Southern Expansion bid for an A-League licence, confirmed that he will resign immediately from that role as well as from his position with Football NSW.

He said if elected he will also excuse himself from any discussions or decision-making regarding which franchises will be included in a revamped national competition.

In terms of his job at SBS, where his primary role is football analysis, the 49-year-old will continue, but promised he would not let it, or any other role, interfere with his duties as a director of FFA.

In what sounded very much like a call to arms — he is the first person nominated to come out and speak openly in the media — the long time SBS presenter told The Weekend Australian that it is “a privilege and an honour to be asked to serve the game”.

“The opportunity to serve the game at the present time is one that I feel I have a responsibility to accept,” Foster said.

“Firstly because the players in the professional game have asked me to do so and also because it is extremely important that people who have a lifetime of service to the game are able to play a role in the governance of football.

“Everyone understands we need a balance and a matrix of skills are necessary to run any organisation, however, the football DNA, the lifetime service, knowledge of the game and experience having played has to be recognised as an absolutely vital part of the direction of the game going forward.”

Despite his strong connections with the PFA, Foster says he will be someone who will work for all aspects of the game. “While I was nominated by the PFA, I am a whole of game candidate. I am someone who represents the game more broadly,” he said. “As someone who has an understanding of the professional game, who has worked at the grassroots and many levels, and been chairman of the PFA, what I want to see, if I have to opportunity to serve, is that the best interests of the game are served.”

Foster, who played in the National Soccer League with Adelaide City, Marconi Stallions and Northern Spirit, as well stints in England with Portsmouth and Crystal Palace, did not shy away from whether he would stand for FFA chairman if elected to the board. The chairman is selected by the board and not by vote at the AGM.

“I’d be delighted to serve and I believe in the importance of football people undertaking leadership roles in the game,” he said.

“We have incredibly competent and capable people in our game and we need to start to invest in them and support and nurture them.

“The principle should be that our people love, respect and understand the game — they must be in a leadership role at all levels.

“My candidature, however, is focused only on an opportunity to serve the game. I believe the broader football community is coming to the understanding we now need our own people in positions of authority.”

Whether Foster, who can sometimes be a polarising figure because of his views, especially in terms of being an advocate for the players, has the numbers to be elected remains to be seen.

Many among the member federations have struggled to see eye-to-eye with the PFA, with a number expressing concern that they now have too much power in the revamped congress.