Football Federation Australia defended the board's "controversial involvement" in last week's failed peace talks that involved FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation after "coming under heavy criticism" from the game's stakeholders, according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The A-League clubs accused the FFA board and Chair Steven Lowy of "twice obstructing agreements between three sets of stakeholders that would have ended the bitter impasse over the expansion of the FFA Congress." FFA denied any suggestion it "acted improperly" during the discussions on Wednesday and Thursday. While Lowy was unavailable for comment on Friday, an FFA spokesperson claimed the FFA board is "entitled to meet privately with one specific group of stakeholders as part of the negotiations for an expanded Congress." The FFA spokesperson said, "It is entirely appropriate for the FFA Board to share its view with the members and any other interested party as to what balance in the Congress it believes is appropriate to ensure the interests of whole game are promoted." It follows complaints from several stakeholders who were "under the impression the FFA was not a stakeholder in the discussion, rather as a facilitator." Their understanding was the board "could not influence the composition of the Congress, which elects board members, removes board members and holds the board accountable" (SMH, 8/11).
