Football Federation Australia has "come under fire over plans to slug kids and amateurs extra on their registration fees" as the organization’s "financial struggles" continue following the Socceroos’ failure to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup, according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. The 2-0 loss to Peru in the final group match last week had "serious consequences," not only sending Australia packing from the tournament but forcing FFA to miss out on a A$5.5M ($4M) windfall it would have received for getting to the round of 16. That would have been on top of the A$10M ($7.3M) FFA already received for qualifying for Russia. FFA is "only expected to break even after taking into account spending" of more than A$300,000 ($219,630) on each squad player, the pre-tournament base in Turkey and funds used to pay for accommodation and charter flights for VIPs. An email in which FFA foreshadows the increase in registration fees was circulated to A-League clubs. In the letter, FFA CEO David Gallop said that the extra funds "would help the programs for the junior national teams." The news has not been "well received." Many parents, especially those with two, three or more kids in the family, have "been up in arms over the high cost of registrations to play the game" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/3).
