Football Federation Australia Stalling A-League Talks Over Legal Threats

Football Federation Australia "shut down talks on a new A-League operating model in retaliation to the clubs' threats of legal action seeking to force the governing body to reveal its finances," according to Kemp & McKay of STUFF. Clubs were to set meet FFA on Thursday to discuss the "slated new framework against the backdrop of a bitter fight over power and finances." However, it is understood FFA Chair Steven Lowy "pulled the pin" on Wednesday and suspended correspondence indefinitely. It came after the 10 clubs, acting collectively under the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association, "issued Lowy with a seven-day ultimatum to open his books or face court." Frustration on both sides "mounted in recent months" as FFA repeatedly rejected "the clubs' demand of what they believe is their rightful share of the TV deal" -- a minimum A$4M ($3.2M) each in revenue per year (STUFF, 7/26).