Matildas fiasco exposes frailties in Australian soccer leadership

The fiasco surrounding the Matildas has gone too far and Football Federation Australia needs to act now and decisively.

FFA chief executive David Gallop’s media conference on Monday has done little to end the speculation surrounding Alen Stajcic’s sacking. Picture: AAP

The fiasco surrounding the Matildas has gone too far and Football Federation Australia needs to act now and decisively.

As the game gets put through the mincer, yet again, and former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic’s reputation is being trashed, there is no alternative other than to instigate an independent inquiry with no limits.

And until that inquiry is held and the results revealed then Stajcic should be reinstated immediately as Matildas coach.

Unfortunately, inquiries are nothing new to Australian soccer. They seem to have occurred annually for the past 45 years. No sporting organisation does self destruction better than Australian soccer administration.

But this situation has gotten out of hand. There is a terrible stench — anyone smell a rat? — about this whole business and the demands for answers and transparency, especially from the rank and file, are growing by the minute.

The events of the past five days have done frightening damage, not just to the sport as a whole but to the Matildas brand and certain individuals. It has been allowed to fester and career out of control.

And FFA has to wear most of the blame.

What has made this whole debacle shambolic is the fact that no one is any wiser as to the reasons for Stajcic’s sacking.

All we have been told is that it revolves around a toxic culture within the group. There’s absolutely no hint of sexual misbehaviour or violence.

Suggestions that the so-called decline in the team’s performances last year is also a factor are laughable and should be treated with contempt.

An Asian Football Confederation technical report of Australia’s performance at last year’s Asian Cup praised the Matildas.

In part, it read: “Australia, China PR, Japan and Korea Republic successfully used high-quality long diagonal passing to exploit spaces which appeared when opponents dropped into narrow defensive blocks. The ability to hit these long passes with precision requires training-ground work at development levels.

“Wide range shots from midfield; immediate pressure to regain possession is strong quality of the team; good teamwork; strong and effective in set plays with 20 and 14 as good headers of the ball.”

The FFA’s failure to publicly account for the reasons for Stajcic’s axing makes the situation worse. Instead of facts to digest, there is a vacuum filled by rumour, gossip and innuendo.

As the days go by and the scrutiny falls back on a number of parties, including FFA, Professional Footballers Australia and the Our Watch organisation, more and more concerning questions are being raised.

One that needs to be answered is: Where is FFA chairman Chris Nikou, who hasn’t been seen nor heard from since he fronted the media to talk about Stajcic’s sacking last Saturday. His silence is deafening.

Australian soccer was promised strong leadership and a way forward when he, along with several others, including deputy chairwoman Heather Reid, were elected to a new board. We have seen no evidence of that in a case that has been horribly mishandled on every level.

Of course, the first call is on the management, but this is now out of control and a public relations disaster. Nikou needs to step up. If and when he does then he must have answers.

Then there is the matter of Heather Reid, who made some astonishing comments in the media yesterday.

Having declined to speak to The Australian when contacted, Reid gave an interview to The Sydney Morning Herald.

“It’s a pity that there aren’t more parents and players prepared to speak up,” Reid said. “If people knew the actual facts, they would be shocked. And talk to players about their situation in the team.”

In refusing to answer specific questions about the reports, FFA have been hiding behind “confidentiality” so as to protect all parties, yet Reid was quick to publicly cast stones at Stajcic.

Suggestions also emerged that she has been responsible for briefing certain media people.

FFA need to quiz Reid and if the allegations are correct then her position on the board would appear untenable.

The PFA also has to come under scrutiny because there are some people in the organisation who have been far too close to the situation and whose judgment could be clouded.

Given the innuendo, the accusations, the suggestions and the angst that has swirled around the past five days, it is clear something needs to be done. Now.

What the game needs is strong leadership and, most importantly, an inquiry.

Failure to do so would mean the board has failed in its duty.