Sport Australia will not intervene over sacking of Alen Stajcic

Sport Australia has no intention of intervening over the sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

Former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic. Picture: Getty Images

Sport Australia, the organisation that provides vital funding to help support the Matildas, has confirmed it is being kept up to date regarding the controversial sacking of coach Alen Stajcic but has no intention of intervening.

It also appears that neither SA nor the Australian Institute of Sport were aware of any problems surrounding the alleged toxic environment within the Matildas.

SA’s statement came as federal Minister for Sport and National Party deputy leader Bridget McKenzie said she was following the Stajcic situation and was “aware of the many concerns”.

“The international success of the Matildas has been instrumental in increasing participation of young women and girls in the game of soccer across Australia,” Senator McKenzie said in a statement issued to The Australian.

“I am aware of the many concerns that people have expressed regarding Alen Stajcic, the former coach of the Matildas, and am following the situation.

“I have been in contact with FFA and accept the decision made by the FFA Board.”

Stajcic’s contract was terminated on January 19 on the basis of separate confidential surveys of the players conducted by Professional Footballers Australia and Our Watch, an organisation aimed at protecting women and children from violence, as well as an investigation by Football Federation Australia.

FFA has refused to go into specific details surrounding the coach’s dismissal. Stajcic has since been paid out and is considering his legal options in a bid to clear his name.

As many as 19 Matildas players have come out in support of their former coach and claim they are still in the dark over the reasons for his dismissal.

While Sport Australia would not be drawn specifically on a matter which has cast serious doubts over FFA’s handling of it, a spokesman acknowledged “the difficulty of the situation for all concerned”.

“This is a matter for Football Federation Australia,” an SA spokesman said in reply to a number of questions posed by The Australian.

“The FFA is keeping Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport informed.

“At the invitation of FFA, the AIS is currently working with the Matildas program on leadership development and team culture ahead of the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympics.”

Asked when the leadership and development program had started and was it the result of concerns over Stajcic, the spokesman replied that “it had already been planned prior to the (FFA) decision on Stajcic”.

Pressed as to whether it was started because of existing concerns about Stajcic, the reply was, “that wasn’t the premise, no”.

Stefan Kamasz, who held a number of positions at national, state and club level during a 45-year career in football administration, has raised questions surrounding FFA’s handling of Stajcic’s dismissal, the involvement of the players’ union, the legitimacy of the surveys, the leaking of confidential information to certain media and FFA’s duty of care to Stajcic and his family.

Kamasz, an inductee in the FFA Hall of Fame, is calling for an independent inquiry or at the very least a review by the FFA board of directors.

“The board of FFA has yet to provide clear, transparent reasons why, less than six months out from the Women’s World Cup, it had no alternative but to instantly dismiss the national coach, Alen Stajcic, on the basis of a recommendation from FFA management,” Kamasz posted on his Facebook page.

“Two surveys conducted by FFA did not recommend any dismissal, so what other information was taken into consideration that Alen either knew, or did not know, about? Why was a confidential report leaked to some sections of the media?”

Kamasz went on to provide an extensive list of 55 questions that he wants put to FFA and the board of directors.