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Football Federation Australia Says It 'Has Nothing To Hide' From A-League Clubs

Football Federation Australia said that it has "nothing to hide and will be happy to address the concerns of A-League club owners over a leaked letter that criticised them for not having the interests of the game at heart," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. While FFA did not want to comment on the matter, sources said that FFA CEO David Gallop, who has been in India for the Asian Football Confederation elections, "has written to owners of the clubs following the release of the letter, which appeared on thesaturdaypaper.com.au site last weekend." FFA is understood "to be happy to discuss the matter" when it meets club chairs on Oct. 12 -- a meeting that seems "certain to be tense, given the owners have also asked that an independent commission be put on the agenda." FFA has been "forced to act following the leaking of the letter to FIFA," in which it was suggested "that the A-League clubs in Australia are not 'clubs' in the more traditional European or South American sense. They are all privately owned and, as such, are 'for-profit' entities whose objective is to act in the interests of their shareholders (and in doing so, build the sales value of their asset) and not act in the interests of the game of football in Australia as a whole" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/29).

TEAM-UP: In a separate piece, Gatt reported disgruntled A-League owners have taken the "drastic step of forming their own association as they step up their campaign for the introduction of an independent commission to run the national competition." Sources said that the owners, who recently formed and constituted the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association, "want the issue of an independent A-League put on the agenda" when the club chairs meet with the FFA on Oct. 12 (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/28).

OUT OF TIME: The AAP reported A-League club owners have reportedly "set up an association as they push for an independent commission to run the competition." Meanwhile National Premier League club Sydney United has also threatened to "take matters into their own hands" if FFA continues to stall on creating a nationwide second division competition. Sydney United will host Edgeworth Eagles in Sunday's final at Edensor Park, but the former National Soccer League club wants "more opportunities to play on the bigger stage." Sydney United Dir Sam Krslovic said, "We, as a club, have been very patient, but time has run out" (AAP, 9/27).

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