Australian football "faces an embarrassing intervention this week" as a joint FIFA-Asian Football Confederation delegation arrives for talks aimed at "ending a bitter power struggle that has plunged the domestic game into crisis," according to Ian Ransom of REUTERS. Football Federation Australia "has been at loggerheads" with the country's 10 professional A-League clubs, and "come under pressure from FIFA," to expand membership of its 10-member Congress into a "more democratic model." The Congress, which elects the FFA board, has representatives of the country's nine states and territories but "just one delegate for all 10 clubs in the top-flight A-League and none representing the players." The FFA has proposed a 13-member Congress, offering two additional votes to the clubs and one for the players (REUTERS, 8/8). In Sydney, Dominic Bossi reported the Australian players' union said that it will "not waver from its demand for two seats" at an expanded FFA congress, "reiterating concerns over a lack of accountability on the FFA board." Professional Footballers Australia has "called for players and clubs to have a greater say." The PFA suggested the players and clubs are responsible for 85% of FFA revenue, but currently boast just 10% of "the influence at its membership tier." More than 60% of FIFA's member nations have player representation at its congress and PFA CEO John Didulica said that the union will "stand firm in its request for two seats at the expanded FFA membership" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/8).
