FFA gives control of A-League to competing clubs

By: The Associated Press Posted: 4:45 AM CDT Monday, Jul. 1, 2019

SYDNEY, Australia - A preliminary deal has been reached for the A-League to be run independently of Football Federation Australia, ending a lengthy fight for control between club owners and the national body for the sport.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/07/2019 (2651 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SYDNEY, Australia – A preliminary deal has been reached for the A-League to be run independently of Football Federation Australia, ending a lengthy fight for control between club owners and the national body for the sport.

A report of the New Leagues Working Group, set up in October to consider future governance of football in Australia, decided control of the A-League, women’s W-League and youth league should be run by its operating clubs from next season.

It means a new body, with an independent chairman, will take on the responsibility of running the professional game, bringing Australian football in line with major European competitions such as the English Premier League, which are governed in the same manner.

The new Australian organization will also have representatives from all 12 professional clubs and two representatives from FFA.

FFA had previously clashed with world governing body FIFA over the issue.

The NLWG said Monday it “has reached an in-principle agreement (with club owners and other stakeholders) on recommendations to bring about the evolution and reinvigoration of Australia’s professional domestic competitions.”

The FFA will still receive revenues from the professional leagues to fund Australian national teams and grassroots football, but not in the form of license charges as in the past.

FFA chairman Chris Nikou said the recommendations “serve to align and unite Australian football’s interests like never before.

“Clubs would have greater control over the strategic and commercial direction of the leagues, in turn triggering significant new investment in the quality and marketing of all three leagues,” Nikou said.

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