Craig Foster turns his attention to Stajcic sacking

Craig Foster has turned his attention to the extraordinary sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

Refugee Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, right, with Craig Foster at Melbourne Airport yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

Craig Foster led the relentless and ultimately successful campaign to have young footballer Hakeem al-Araibi returned home to Australia and now he is demanding answers over the extraordinary sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

Foster took some time out of his hectic schedule after Araibi touched down in Melbourne yesterday to join growing calls for an independent inquiry into the axing of Stajcic.

In what is certain to cause serious consternation in the ranks of Football Federation Australia, given Foster’s reputation has now reached almost statesmanlike status, the former Socceroo also took aim at the game’s leaders, citing “a serious culture problem” within the sport.

Australian soccer and FFA have become engulfed in a public relations disaster that has torn the game asunder over the past month, with the footballing public and the media questioning the process around the termination of Stajcic’s contract on January 18.

And now Foster, who intended running for the FFA board in November before withdrawing four days before the elections, wants answers.

“I think someone needs to stand up for the game,” the seemingly tireless Foster told SEN Breakfast radio yesterday when asked if someone needs to stand up for Stajcic.

“I am not across all of the details as you’d imagine. I’ve not read one article (about Stajcic’s axing), not seen any football or read anything.

“In the end, we need to have a serious look at ourselves and while not across all of the facts, we need an independent investigation right now just to work out exactly what occurred to make sure everyone conducted themselves appropriately. We really need to turn things around as a sport and start talking about values and principles and all acting in the right manner.”

Foster’s coments came amid reports the positions of a number of senior FFA managers will come under review in the wake of the Stajcic debacle.

FFA chief executive David Gallop, whose position had previously come into question, head of Women’s Football Emma Highwood and head of national teams Luke Casserly could face a review following an FFA board meeting on Monday night.

The Australian has been told a number of board members have been angered with the way the matter has been handled with the head body coming in for severe criticism.

Foster, widely regarded as the people’s champion, was scathing in his assessment of where the sport is at right now.

“What I do know is that the game has a serious culture problem,” he said. “It’s just a mess. I ran in the recent elections and they were a farce, the lack of ethics involved there was disgusting and that was why I pulled out.”

Foster garnered huge support among the rank and file of Australian football fans when he announced he was running for the FFA board late last year and intended to nominate for the chairmanship.

His passion and vision for the game resonated with the fans, who quickly jumped on board in the hope he could bring it together and take it out of the mire of the internal politics and self interests. But it soon became apparent that he could not make the all-important cut-through with some of the game’s powerbrokers so he withdrew.

There is little doubt his tireless work in fighting for Araibi has now given him an even stronger voice in his bid to turn around Australian soccer.

Foster’s call for an investigation follows the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC) asking the game’s congress to put pressure on the FFA board to instigate an independent inquiry.

It is believed a number of member federations, angered by the developments and the way the sport has been dragged through the mud again, have been watching the Stajcic situation closely.

Meanwhile, it is understood Ante Milicic, who has been a member of the Socceroos coach staff, is not interested in taking over from Stajcic at the Matildas.

The Croatia-based Milicic was approached last week but it is believed his preference is to coach an A-League club.