Football Australia executive Stefan Kamasz quits board

Football’s peak body has been dealt another blow with the bombshell resignation of a key Football Australia board member, after less than two years in the job.

One of football’s leading administrators has resigned from his position on the Football Australia board after just 16 months.

A conflict of values and principles is believed to be behind the shock departure of Stefan Kamasz from the board of Football Australia.

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During Kamasz’s time on the board;

• Football Australia has been rocked by shocking allegations from Matildas great Lisa De Vanna of bullying and harassment;

• Weathered the storm of the Olyroos alcohol-fuelled incident on the flight home from the Tokyo Olympics.

Kamasz, inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2014, declined to be interviewed over his shock resignation.

However, it is understood that Kamasz and others are concerned with FA’s handling of a number of matters.

Stefan Kamasz has stood down from the FA executive.

News Corp had previously revealed the toxic culture within the football community in Australia including De Vanna’s explosive claims of a toxic culture.

News Corp’s expose on the football issues, from grassroots to the elite level, prompted independent body Sports Integrity Australia to open an investigation.

SIA’s inquiry investigated allegations including abuse; bullying; child abuse and child grooming; harassment, sexual misconduct, unlawful discrimination; victimisation and vilification.

Kamasz had previously been critical of how the federation handled Stajcic’s controversial sacking as Matildas coach.

Among the confidential submissions, the SIA has been asked to review the findings of the two key reports used to justify the sacking of Stajcic.

Stajcic, dumped five months before the 2019 World Cup, was one of the Matildas’ most successful coaches, taking them to No.4 in FIFA rankings.

But no plausible explanation has been given on why he was ­contro­versially sent packing.

Findings of this investigation are yet to be released but the Matildas lightning rod moment into culture has fractured the football community.

Kamasz was appointed to the Board in November 2020 and is a long-time football administrator.

Kamasz held a number of positions at Sydney FC.

Positions have included:

• Director of the Australian Soccer Federation (ASF);

• Team manager of the Socceroos;

• General Manager of the National Soccer League between 1982 and 1988 and again between 1996 and 2004;

• Acting CEO of Soccer Australia;

• Chief Executive, Head of Football and Head of Community of Sydney FC between 2008 and 2013;

• General Manager (1990-1993) and Director of Sydney Olympic FC;

Football Australia on their website said Kamasz had left for personal reasons.

“Stefan Kamasz, inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame in 2014, has been an outstanding contributor to Australian football for several decades.

“Stefan is synonymous with Australian football having strongly contributed to our game for many decades across various layers and eras of the game.

“Whilst disappointed to lose someone of Stefan’s calibre and wealth of experience from the Board of Football Australia, he will be no stranger to our game, and we thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best with his personal endeavours.”