Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop "does not expect FIFA to intervene in the administration of the local game," despite FFA's "looming failure to meet key deadlines for the transition to a more democratic membership," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. FIFA warned that it "could take the extreme option" of putting in place a "normalising committee" to replace the FFA board and oversee the reform process if FFA fails to reach consensus for a new congress. So far, FFA's efforts have "resulted in stalemate." FIFA already warned Australia it "will take matters into its own hands" if the reforms are not forthcoming and has "already proved it is willing to act" when national FAs have become "mired down in domestic political battles." Currently, FFA's negotiations with its three key stakeholders -- the state federations, the A-League clubs and the players' union -- have become "fractured," causing delays to the "all-important reform process." But Gallop "believes the stalemate will not result in an intervention from Zurich." He said, "Following extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, we are looking to implement a two-phase approach to expansion of FFA's membership which will meet FIFA's request both in structure and timeframe" (SMH, 6/22).
