Re-elected FFA chairman Chris Nikou defends Olyroos bans

Four disgraced Olyroos players disobeyed coach Graham Arnold’s clear curfew instructions, says the FFA’s re-elected chairman

Olyroos captain Riley McGree is banned from national-team selection until April 1

Four disgraced Olyroos players disobeyed coach Graham Arnold’s clear curfew instructions during the Cambodian sex scandal that earned them international bans, FFA’s freshly re-elected chairman contends.

And Chris Nikou defended his decision not to report March’s on-tour Tinder incident to the board until after an independent investigation had commenced because it was “proper process”, but didn’t outright deny two directors had resigned from their posts early in protest at being kept in the dark.

It came as corporate governance consultant Robyn FitzRoy and Migration Council chief executive Carla Wilshire were elected to replace Crispin Murray and Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, and controversial director Heather Reid was reinstated.

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Melbourne City pair Nathaniel Atkinson and Lachlan Wales, Perth defender Brandon Wilson and Adelaide United midfielder Riley McGree were this week handed lengthy suspensions by the FFA board for “unprofessional conduct” in the hours after Australia’s final game at the AFC Under-23 Championship qualifying tournament.

Olyroos captain McGree is banned from national team selection until April 1 and will not ­appeal, while the other three are out until August 10 — after any ­potential Olympics campaign — and are considering their options.

Nikou, who was re-elected unopposed at Friday’s annual general meeting despite whispers he could be challenged, absolved ­Arnold of any blame.

“Graham, from what I’ve seen, gave very clear instructions about what his expectations were,” Nikou said. “Unfortunately, human nature is you’ve got to take accountability for your actions, and these guys have let themselves down.”

Nikou said “I think you’d have to ask them” when questioned on whether Murray and Rosmarin had stepped down early over Nikou’s purported lack of transparency regarding the Phnom Penh incident.

“There’s some sensitivities around the issue,” he said. “It had potential implications internationally for us, in Cambodia and broadly. It was imperative we went through a thorough process of investigation to ascertain the facts and put them before the board.”

While Reid has returned, her position as deputy chair has been allowed to lapse.

The Daily Telegraph