Football Australia
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:National football association
Football Australia is the governing body of Soccer in Australia, headquartered in Sydney. Although the first governing body of the sport was founded in 1911, Football Australia in its current form was only established in 1961 as the Australian Soccer Federation. It was later reconstituted in 2003 as the Australian Soccer Association before adopting the name of Football Federation Australia in 2005. The name was changed to Football Australia in December 2020.
Football Australia oversees the men's, women's, youth, Paralympic, beach and futsal national teams in Australia, the national coaching programs and the state governing bodies for the sport. It sanctions professional, semi-professional and amateur soccer in Australia. Football Australia made the decision to leave the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), for which it was a founding member, and become a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006 and ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) in 2013.<ref name=ASEAN />
History
In 1911 the Commonwealth Football Association was formed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This body was then superseded by the Australian Soccer Football Association, which was formed in 1921, with its headquarters in Sydney.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football">Template:Cite web</ref> The Australian Soccer Football Association operated for forty years, was given FIFA provisional membership in November 1954<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and this was confirmed in June 1956.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1960, the association disbanded after being suspended from FIFA for the poaching of players from overseas,<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" /> and in 1961 the Australian Soccer Federation was formed as a potential successor governing body. This association was refused re-admittance to FIFA until outstanding fines had been paid, which was done in 1963, seeing the new national body admitted to FIFA.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" />
Isolated from international football, Australia repeatedly applied to join the Asian Football Confederation in 1960,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 1974<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but were denied in all requests. Australia with New Zealand eventually formed the Oceania Football Federation (now Oceania Football Confederation) in 1966.<ref name="ofc-history">Template:Cite web</ref> Australia resigned as an OFC member in 1972 to pursue membership with the AFC, but they rejoined in 1978.<ref>OFC History Template:Webarchive oceaniafootball.com</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1995, the Australian Soccer Federation formally changed its name to Soccer Australia.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" />
Soccer Australia had remained affiliated with the Football Association (FA) even after becoming a full member of FIFA. In 1997, Soccer Australia tried to nominate Australian head coach Terry Venables to replace former Victorian Soccer Federation chairman Sir David Hill-Wood as their representative on the FA Council, though this approach was rejected and Australian representation on the body was discontinued after his exit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2003, following Australia's failure to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, allegations of fraud and mismanagement were levelled at Soccer Australia by elements within the Australian Press including the ABC.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Soccer Australia commissioned an independent inquiry known as the Crawford Report as a result of the Australian Government's threat to withdraw funding to the sport. The Australian Government could not interfere as any political interference would have constituted a breach of FIFA Statutes. The findings of the report were critically analysed by the board of Soccer Australia who believed that the recommendations contained therein were not capable of being implemented. The report recommended, among other things, the reconstitution of the governing body with an interim board headed by prominent businessman Frank Lowy. Some three months after Lowy's appointment Soccer Australia was placed into liquidation and Australia Soccer Association (ASA) was created without encompassing the Crawford Report recommendations and effectively disenfranchising all parties who had an interest in Soccer Australia. The Australian Government provided approximately $15 million to the ASA.<ref name="pm-socceraus-canned">Template:Cite episode</ref>
On 1 January 2005, ASA renamed itself to Football Federation Australia (FFA), aligning with the general international usage of the word "football", in preference to "soccer", and to also distance itself from the failings of the old Soccer Australia. It coined the phrase "old soccer, new football" to emphasise this.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" />
On 1 January 2006, Football Federation Australia moved from the OFC to the AFC.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" /> The move was unanimously endorsed by the AFC Executive Committee on 23 March 2005, and assented by the OFC on 17 April. The FIFA Executive Committee approved the move on 29 June, noting that "as all of the parties involved ... had agreed to the move, the case did not need to be discussed by the FIFA Congress", and was unanimously ratified by the AFC on 10 September.<ref name="fifa-afc">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Football Australia hoped that the move would give Australia a fairer chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup and allow A-League clubs to compete in the AFC Champions League, thereby improving the standard of Australian football at both international and club levels with improved competition in the region.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In February 2008, the Football Federation Australia formally announced their intention to bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2010, the decision was made by Football Australia to withdraw its World Cup bid for 2018, instead focusing on a bid for the 2022 tournament.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> FFA failed in its $45.6 million bid for the 2022 World Cup having received only one vote from the FIFA Executive.<ref name="funding">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 27 August 2013, Australia was admitted as a full member to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), after they formally joined as an invite affiliation to the regional body in 2006.<ref name="ASEAN">Template:Cite web</ref> However, its men's national team has not played the ASEAN Championship as part of the initial agreement.
On 29 January 2015, after the defeat of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, West Asian Football Federation members reportedly sought to remove Australia from the AFC primarily due to "Australia benefiting hugely from Asian involvement without giving much in return".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In November 2018 with numerous board positions coming to the end of their 3-year term, the bulk of the board of directors were replaced at an annual general meeting, as well as the departure of Steven Lowy as chair of the board, which he did in protest at major changes to the governance and voting structure in the overarching Football Australia Congress that elects the Board.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His position was filled by Chris Nikou.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other board members to be elected were Heather Reid, Joseph Carrozzi and Remo Nogarotto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 25 June 2020, Australia won the rights to co-host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup alongside New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 25 November 2020, the FFA Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held. The FFA voted to rename itself to Football Australia. Football Australia Chief Executive, James Johnson, told the media the rebranding would not cost the organisation any money as they already owned the domain and company names.Template:Dubious The name change was seen as a way to unify the branding with the state member federations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 31 December 2020, it was announced that the A-League, W-League and Y-League would no longer be under the jurisdiction of Football Australia in an 'unbundling' process.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The newly formed Australian Professional Leagues would take over the running of top-level football.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As part of the unbundling, the Australian Professional Leagues would also obtain the exclusive right to use the intellectual property rights associated with the A-League brand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These competitions are now known as the A-League Men, A-League Women and A-League Youth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On May 15 2024, Australia won the rights to host the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.[1]
On 11 February 2025, the second division, the Australian Championship,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was announced by CEO James Johnson.
Administration
Soccer in Australia has used a federated model of national, states and territories governing bodies since the first state body was established in New South Wales in 1882. Local associations and regional zones were set up within the states and territories as soccer expanded and from time to time informal groups of clubs have augmented the formal structures. Today, there is one national governing body, nine state and territory member federations and over 100 district, regional and local zones and associations.
- Capital Football
- Northern NSW Football
- Football NSW
- Football Northern Territory
- Football Queensland
- Football South Australia
- Football Tasmania
- Football Victoria
- Football West
Corporate structure
Board of directors
| Name<ref name="FAboard">Template:Cite web</ref> | Position |
|---|---|
| Anter Isaac | Chair |
| Jaclyn Lee-Joe | Deputy Chair |
| Stuart Corbishley | Company Secretary |
| Joseph Carrozzi | Director |
| Sam Ciccarello | Director |
| Heather Garriock | Director |
| Catriona Noble | Director |
| Spiro Pappas | Director |
Senior management team
| Name<ref name="FAboard"/><ref name="Football News 24">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="FIFA">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Position |
|---|---|
| Vacant | Chief Executive Officer |
| Heather Garriock | Interim Chief Executive Officer |
| George Houssos | Head of Corporate Affairs |
| Gary Moretti | Head of National Teams |
| Peter Giurissevich | Interim General Counsel |
| Caroline Veitch | Chief Financial Officer |
| Annette Delaney | Interim Chief People Officer |
| Nina McDonnell | Head of People and Culture |
| Sarah Walsh | Head of Community, Women's Football and Football Development, Head of AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ 2026 Office |
| Vacant | Head of Marketing, Communications, Corporate Affairs |
| Tom Rischbieth | Head of Commercial and Events, Chief Revenue Officer |
| Paul Suters | Chief Technology Officer |
| Vacant | Head of Member Federation Relations and Community |
| Vacant | Head of Professional Football & Competitions |
| Chris Burke | Governance Advisor |
| Nathan Magill | Head of Referees |
Team staff
| Name<ref name="FIFA"/><ref name="AFC">Template:Cite web</ref> | Position |
|---|---|
| Anter Isaac | Chairman |
| Vacant | General Secretary |
| Trevor Morgan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Technical Director |
| Tony Popovic<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Men's national team head coach |
| Joe Montemurro<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Women's national team head coach |
| Mathew Cheeseman | Referee Coordinator |
National Indigenous Advisory Group
In November 2021, Football Australia created the inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group (NIAG), an advisory body<ref name=faniag/> aimed at helping to foster engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and increase their participation in the game.<ref name=cloos>Template:Cite web</ref> NIAG is an advisory body for Football Australia, comprising 9 members of First Nations communities.<ref name=faniag>Template:Cite web</ref>
The inaugural members of the group are drawn from all levels of football as well as media, academia, and government: Frank Farina OAM, Karen Menzies (the first Indigenous Matilda<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>), Tanya Oxtoby, Kyah Simon,<ref name=cloos/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jade North (former Socceroos defender),<ref name=monteverde>Template:Cite web</ref> Courtney Hagan, Kenny Bedford, Selina Holtze, Professor John Maynard, Narelda Jacobs,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Football Australia's Head of Women's Football, Sarah Walsh. North and Walsh are co-chairs of the group.<ref name=cloos/>
The initial focus of NIAG is on supporting and retaining First Nations players and other staff involved in the game, reviewing pathways and programs to football that impact social outcomes, fostering strategic partnerships, as well as developing employment strategies and the organisation's reconciliation action plan (RAP).<ref name=monteverde/>
Competitions
Football Australia organises several national competitions, with state-based competitions organised by the respective state governing soccer bodies.
- A-League Men (ceased ownership of the competition in July 2019)Template:CN
- Australia Cup
- Australian Championship<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=FootyWACMens>Template:Cite web</ref>
- National Premier Leagues
- A-League Women, formerly W-League (ceased ownership of the competition in July 2019)Template:CN
- Women's Australia Cup (a proposed competition due to start in 2024)<ref name=FootyWACWomens>Template:Cite web</ref>
- A-League Youth, formerly Y-League (ceased ownership of the competition in July 2019)Template:CN
- FFA State Institute Challenge
- F-League
See also
- Soccer in Australia
- Futsal in Australia
- Football Australia defunct sporting federation
References
External links
Template:Soccer in Australia Template:Navboxes Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control