Soccer: FFA boss stands by Alen Stajcic sacking

Football Federation Australia chairman Chris Nikou says his board stands by the decision to sack Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

Chairman Chris Nikou with FFA chief executive David Gallop

Football Federation Australia chairman Chris Nikou has finally broken his silence, declaring his board remains united and stands by their controversial decision to sack Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

Nikou told the ABC the board would not reveal the reasons for Stajcic’s sacking because it was a “private employment matter and we have gone as far as we can”.

And, as one of the most divisive and damaging episodes in Australian soccer in recent times heads into a second week, board member Joseph Carrozzi revealed via social media the head body will resist growing calls for an independent inquiry into the matter.

“This is complex. FFA acted in what we believe was the interests of the players. Some will accept it; others won’t accept it whatever the evidence. Can’t hold inquiry because this is a private employment matter and all parties need to be respected esp the former coach,” Carrozzi posted on Twitter yesterday.

However, The Australian understands there is likely to be a strong push for an inquiry from several of FFA’s member federations who are “displeased” with what has happened and are determined to seek answers. The Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC) which represents National Premier League clubs, called for an inquiry last Friday.

FFA’s recently formed Women’s Football Council chairwoman Ros Moriarty questioned the absence of details surrounding the Stajcic situation.

“There can be no dispute that player welfare and wellbeing must always be paramount,” Moriarty wrote in a column on Linkedin. “However, the details are missing as to why, when and how an irretrievable position hastily erupted about the Matildas workplace. Neither the Professional Footballers Association review nor the simultaneous Our Watch survey, advocated a dismissal.”

Moriarty also suggested “there are still more questions than answers. Questions of FFA around governance, due diligence and transparency are going begging”.

Despite mounting pressure, Nikou stayed out of the public eye last week and ignored calls to front the media again over the decision to terminate Stajcic’s contract over the alleged poor culture and environment inside the Matildas camp. However, he opted to speak to Tracey Holmes on her weekly program on ABC radio, The Ticket, yesterday, though we are still no closer as to an explanation.

“The board is very united,” Nikou, who was installed as FFA chairman to replace Steven Lowy in November, told Holmes.

“I know there are a lot of opinions out in the marketplace on this because it is a very emotional space. But, at the end of the day, we had a detailed board discussion, and, on the evidence before us it was a unanimous decision that this was the right decision for this playing group.

“I think we have said as much as we can and people need to understand it is a private employment matter and we have gone as far as we can. The important bit for us, as the Matildas themselves have come out and said, is that we are getting on with business.

“There’s a four nations tournament, there’s a World Cup and we have been swamped with applications for this (coaching) role.”

Nikou denied that, in making their decision, the board had been influenced by outside forces or that they had been “used” by the anti-Stajcic factions who have hidden agendas.

“Certainly not. Unfortunately, those sorts of rumours and innuendo are much more interesting than the plain, boring facts of the situation,” he said. “They are not true, they were not a consideration. We have dealt with the issues as they were presented to us without any of those motives people are trying to put to us.”

Nikou would not go into any details when asked to explain why Stajcic wasn’t given an opportunity to discuss how to address concerns of the environment inside the Matildas camp and avoid the drastic decision to sack him.

“You have to appreciate that my hands are tied to a certain extent as to what I can and can’t say about what has occurred previously,” he added. “It was not a decision taken lightly last week. It was taken after due consideration and consultation with the management team based in part on surveys, but based in part of other information put before the board.

“I believe it was the right decision last week and remains the right decision even now.”