Football Federation Australia (FFA) has agreed in-principle to enlarge its membership (its “Congress”) to include a broader representation of stakeholders to complement the ongoing independence of the FFA board.

 

The in-principle agreement was reached after a two-day series of meetings with FIFA and AFC representatives which also involved other football stakeholders including FFA board and management, Hyundai A-League clubs, State and Territory Federations, Professional Footballers’ Australia (PFA), and the Australian Sports Commission.

 

The meetings were held to discuss potential changes to FFA’s governance structure to keep pace with the evolution of the game in Australia and align FFA with international football governing statutes.

 

FFA Chairman, Mr Steven Lowy AM, said FFA would immediately liaise with stakeholders about a “road map” to implement the changes to expand the Congress from the current 10, which comprises a representative from each of the 9 State and Territory Federations and one representative of the Hyundai A-League clubs.

 

It is expected to implement the changes by March 2017.

 

Mr Lowy said the meetings were very productive and conducted in a spirit of transparency and collaboration that gave all parties an opportunity to present issues most relevant to them.

 

“All stakeholders recognise that the structure introduced in 2003 was absolutely necessary and that it underpinned the enormous success of the rebirth of football in Australia,” he said. “But when I was elected chairman of FFA in November last year I said that football was moving from its foundation stage to a new phase of growth and evolution.

 

“The FFA board recognises this and has shared with FIFA and AFC its ideas about how the next few years might evolve.

 

“We can and we should consider changes that give all stakeholders the best chance to achieve their potential.

 

“At the same time, FFA stressed at all the meetings that the future success of the game depends upon a disciplined and stable governance structure that serves the interests of the game overall.

 

“I’m confident we can move forward with sensible reforms that strengthen the relationship between all stakeholders.”