Steven Lowy issues dire warning over proposed governance changes

Outgoing FFA chairman Steven Lowy issues a “careful what you wish for” warning over the sport’s governance issues.

FFA chairman Steven Lowy explains his decision to step down to the media in Sydney yesterday. Picture: AAP

Outgoing Football Federation Australia chairman Steven Lowy has delivered a stinging broadside at his opponents and critics, ­declaring the game is “at a tipping point” and warning them “to be careful what they wish for”.

As revealed exclusively in The Australian yesterday, an at-times emotional and angry Lowy said he is removing himself from soccer to take some of the heat out of the war surrounding the future governance of the sport.

Lowy, who took the reins from his father Frank in 2015, will not nominate for the position at FFA’s AGM in November, ending the Lowy family’s long, and at times, controversial involvement in Australian soccer.

The game has now been left with the huge question of who will be his successor.

Melbourne Victory chairman and part-owner Anthony Di Pietro, Western Sydney Wanderers chairman and part-owner Paul Lederer and former Soccer Australia and Marconi Football Club chairman Remo Nogarotto have all been mentioned as possibilities.

But yesterday was all about Lowy as he faced a large media pack at FFA’s Sydney offices.

He ensured he would not leave without first taking aim at his ­opponents and warning of dire consequences if “the vested interests” get their way. Lowy has been fighting a drawn-out battle against the ­A-League clubs and some state federations over the FFA’s congress, voting power and control of football’s purse strings.

Under instruction from world governing body FIFA, a congress review working group (CRWG) was formed and recently released a number of recommendations, including the reshaping of the voting structure as well as a call for the A-League to become independent of FFA.

Those recommendations would virtually strip Lowy and the FFA board of any power, leaving his position untenable.

Seemingly worn down by the political infighting that led to that process, Lowy wasn’t about to let an opportunity to fire some passing shots slip past him.

“I guess at times I think it has been a combination of all of those feelings,” Lowy replied when asked by The Weekend Australian if he was feeling, hurt, angry and disappointed.

When it was suggested the situation had become personal, he said: “Parts of it have been I think. From time to time during the ­debates those critics have used the personal side to try and cloud the main issues in terms of myself.

“By making this decision I want to get the focus back on the core principle and not on personalities. I hope to encourage a proper analysis of the real issues so that an outcome can be achieved that is in the interests of the whole of the game. But I want to make it clear that I would not, under any circumstances, wish to serve in a governance structure where independence was compromised.

“The CRWG has proposed a model that would do just that.

“Yet again, Australian football faces an existential question: how best to govern the game … by vested interests or by a truly independent board?

“For the stakeholders who must determine the future in coming weeks I issue this warning: those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. To those who are tired of the debate and wish for an outbreak of peace so that the game can get on with life, I say: be very careful what you wish for. We are now at a tipping point — the game can get stronger, or it could break if vested interests ­prevail.”

Lowy, who assumed the role of chairman under controversial ­circumstances, amid cries of nepotism after member associations were encouraged not to put up any contenders when he faced election, said he was proud of the achievements in the game over the past 15 years.

“No one can deny that the principle of independent governance has been the fundamental reason for our success,” he said. “Blue-chip corporate sponsors and broadcasters have faith in that model, as do the state and federal governments.

“And it has delivered success on and off the pitch through the Socceroos and the Matildas, the forming of the A-League and W-League.”