FIFA said that it is "closely monitoring" the "civil war that is threatening to tear Australian soccer apart," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. The response comes in the wake of reports that Sport Australia, an arm of the federal government, became involved in the controversy surrounding the "long-running governance issues in the local game." As revealed on Friday, Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer recently wrote to Football Federation Australia's membership -- nine federations and A-League clubs -- expressing "concerns over a number of recommendations made by the Congress Review Working Group." Palmer wrote, "It is the view of Sport Australia, that there are a number of recommendations in the (CRWG) report that do not meet Sport Australia's Sports Governance Principles." The CRWG called for "significant changes" to FFA's voting congress as well as independence for the A-League -- recommendations that have been "fiercely contested by FFA and its supporters." Palmer's letter was viewed as "an attempt to influence the process for change" -- a situation "frowned upon by FIFA, which does not take kindly to any government interference in the running of the sport at any level." If FIFA finds that there has been government interference, "it would likely take serious action by way of sacking the current FFA board and installing a normalisation committee or suspending FFA, which would have serious consequences for the Socceroos and Matildas" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/10).
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: In Sydney, David Polkinghorne reported Canberra's premier league club presidents called for a meeting with the Capital Football board to discuss Chair Mark O'Neill's "controversial governance stance" as well as the governing body's decision to introduce a second division next year. O'Neill "caused concern amongst the club presidents with his decision to seemingly block FIFA's proposed restructure" of FFA's governance because it "could reduce the board's independence." They are also concerned about Capital Football CEO Phil Brown's decision to introduce an NPL2 competition next year "despite moves in place for the FFA to conduct a review of the premier league structure around the country" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/9).
