A-League expansion, the abolition of the salary cap and a W-League overhaul "are possible effects of a radical overhaul of Football Federation Australia's voting structure," according to David Davutovic of the HERALD SUN. FIFA, which has "pressured FFA into giving more stakeholders a say, will ratify the change by March 2017." FIFA and FFA were "coy of the new voting composition," but it is understood that the players’ association, women’s football, the referees and even futsal "could all get a seat at the voting table which will lift from 10 to at least 18." A FIFA spokesperson said that FFA changes "were imminent" (HERALD SUN, 11/7).
REPLAYS: The AAP reported the A-League is "set to implement video replays before the finals series starts, meaning contentious incidents like David Carney's handball goal will no longer be missed." A-League CEO Greg O'Rourke revealed that FFA's leading referees and video assistant referees "spent the weekend before last conducting tests of Hawkeye technology at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium." It came after FFA Referee Dir Ben Wilson traveled to Zurich last month for workshops on VARs with FIFA, the Int'l FA Board (IFAB) and 10 other participating countries. FFA had "already flagged the potential to introduce video replays in time for the start of the finals on April 21." But FFA is "now aiming to do so a couple of weeks beforehand," providing it has completed all the necessary testing required under FIFA rules (AAP, 11/7).
BACKING THE BRITS: In Sydney, Michael Lynch reported FFA is set to follow the English and Scottish FAs toward a "possible collision with FIFA over the two nations' decision to have their players wear Remembrance Day poppies on their shirts" during a World Cup qualifier on Friday at Wembley. FFA "plans to have poppy displays and ceremonies to commemorate Australia's war dead at all A-League and W-League games this weekend," beginning with the Melbourne City vs. Newcastle Jets match at AAMI Park on Thursday. Players will wear the poppy emblem on the front of their shirts "to draw attention to the significance of the day" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/7).
