FIFA-backed change for Australian soccer moves closer

Fears have emerged that the proposed expansion of the A-League will be put on hold.

FFA chairman Stephen Lowy. Picture: Tim Hunter

Fears have emerged that the proposed expansion of the A-League will be put on hold after confirmation that the Congress ­Review Working Group recommendations have to be put to a vote at a special Football Federation Australia general meeting early next month.

As revealed in The Australian yesterday, world governing body FIFA rubber-stamped the findings of the CRWG, which has, among other things, called for drastic changes to FFA’s voting structure and for the A-League to become independent of the head body in time for the 2019-20 season.

In a letter, seen by The Australian, to FFA chairman Steven Lowy, FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura says the Member Associations Committee “had confirmed that the proposed recommendations are fully in line with FIFA’s requirements” and “moved that the recommendations of the CRWG be submitted to an extraordinary general meeting of the FFA to be convened as soon as possible”.

The EGM is likely to be held some time after September 13, when the nine state and territory member federations and the A-League clubs (through a single vote) will decide whether to accept the CRWG recommendations.

Lowy opposes the CRWG report and has said he would stand down at an FFA AGM in November because he did not want to serve in a set-up where he says independence is compromised.

The Australian understands this was not the letter Lowy expected to receive from FIFA as he had hoped FIFA would allow him to find some sort of compromise with the federations, the A-League clubs and the players’ union.

Two member associations, Capital Football and Northern Territory, are siding with Lowy to vote against the recommendations but FFA still needs another vote to see them torpedoed. Northern NSW and Tasmania have indicated support for Lowy but the latest FIFA development is expected to test their resolve.

It now appears FFA has no more room to manoeuvre. If the recommendations are passed, the changes will go through. If they are vetoed, FIFA will likely act by ­either suspending FFA or sacking the board and bringing in a normalisation committee.

In any case, the situation has created all sorts of issues, notably the situation regarding expansion of the A-League from 2019-20.

There are nine bids for two spots for a 12-team league. The FFA board was due to decide the winners by the end of October, but it will likely not be in power.

It is unlikely a temporary board would have the power or the inclination to decide on expansion given a new board would have to be voted in at the November AGM.

Meanwhile, Lowy said he acknowledged the decision by FIFA but said the recommendations would compromise the independence of the FFA board.

He said in a statement yesterday: “Acting as a bloc, as they have done throughout the consultation process, the professional game and only two of the states could control the congress and therefore the election of directors to the FFA board.

“FFA has championed efforts to expand the congress and expand the A-League under a new operating model. The CRWG’s recommendations on these issues are not the only way forward. There are other options that will address stakeholder concern and satisfy FIFA’s requirements, including Article 15 of the FIFA Statutes.’’