To download a low resolution version of the report click here

FOOTBALL Federation Australia should immediately implement the findings of an independent national public inquiry into the game by Football Australia for the benefit of all stakeholders, says FA founding member Clive Palmer.

FA Independent Commissioner Gary Collis presented the findings of his public inquiry in Brisbane today, which include recommendations for the corporate structure of the FFA to be broken down.

“The findings of this inquiry should be used as a catalyst for change as they reflect the views of the Australian football community,” he said.

Mr Collis compiled his findings and recommendations after an extensive tour of the country to attend hearings in Brisbane, Townsville, Newcastle, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, where he heard submissions from a wide cross-section of the football community keen to express their views.

The 48-page document will be distributed to a broad range of organisations, including FFA, media outlets, football associations and key stakeholders, as well as members of parliament at both state and federal levels.

Terms of reference covered the failure of the Olyroos to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics, the high cost of junior participation, the degree of encouragement provided to women to participate in the game, the structure, governance and sustainability of the A-League in its current form, as well as any other matters of importance to the game.

Mr Palmer thanked Mr Collis for his diligent work and said the inquiry’s findings should herald a new era of accountability and transparency in the game that could only benefit football’s future.

“Our aim has been to press for transparency in the game and bring heightened awareness to the issues that the football community considers to be vital to the game’s wellbeing and progress,” he said.

“The FFA has already adopted many recommendations I had made over a long period of time while I was with Gold Coast United.

“The inquiry and its findings show a significant level of disenchantment at grassroots level and beyond. These are the views of football community and the issues raised should now be taken seriously, and acted upon, by the governing bodies at national and state levels.

“I understand that FFA is beginning a process of listening to the views of A-League club owners who invest millions of dollars into the sport and this principle should also be extended to the wider football community.

“I am no longer a shareholder of an A-League club but I still have concerns for the players and the fans of the game.”

Mr Collis thanked everyone who gave submissions, either at the hearings around the country or by phone, for their honesty and insight when expressing their views or concerns.

“Every contributor had something to offer and I commend both the passion and integrity of all the individuals or groups I met or spoke with,” he said.

“What is clear is that many people who love the game, and are involved in the game, lack confidence in the current administration at FFA and their concerns should be addressed.”

SOME media snippets from mid to late April and early May. Click the links to go to the story.

Palmer’s Football Australia officials in Newcastle (Newcastle Herald – 12 April)

Fink: Palmer has right to sponsor Adelaide (ESPNstar – 20 April)

AFC makes new rules after Adelaide United’s failed sponsorship rebellion (Adelaide Now – 20 April)

As NRL memberships surge next challenge is ensuring enough seats for bums (Sportsbizinsider – 21 April)

Hearings ‘hampered by fear’ (Hobart Mercury – 21 April)

Watchdog bears its teeth over FFA awards gaffe (Adelaide Now – 23 April)

Red-faced FFA vows to probe medal fiasco (The Australian – 24 April)

Medal mix-up just part of A-League’s year of shambles and shemozzles (Sydney Morning Herald 24 April)

Tony Sage labels the mix-up over the Marston Medal presentation as ‘amateurish’ (The Australian – 24 April)

Fink: Time for FFA to explain Bid Book (ESPNstar – 27 April)

Owners must make united stand for the good of the game (Sydney Morning Herald – 29 April)

Jets fans deserve better treatment (Newcastle Herald – 2 May)

Moore calls for discussion on code (Central Telegraph – 2 May)

The rights stuff: How Lowy-Tinkler deal put FFA back on course for a league broadcast bonanza (Sportsbizinsider – 3 May)

Sky Blues told to wait for Arnold (Sydney Morning Herald – 3 May)

 

PUBLIC Inquiry Commissioner Gary Collis has concluded his raft of hearings around Australia after the final leg of his nine-city, sixteen-day national fact-finding mission was completed in Perth yesterday.

After visiting  Brisbane, Townsville, Newcastle, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth, Collis will now begin compiling his findings into a final report after what he described as an ‘informative but startling’ series of hearings.

According to Collis, one of the most prominent topics in submissions during the course of the inquiry has been the cost of junior football and the feeling among many parents that junior funds are wrongly used to support senior activity.

“There is a strong feeling that FFA and the state federations view junior football across the country as a cash cow or a well of money that they can dip into when they need to,” Collis said.

“To many parents there is certainly no sense of tangible value in return for what they have to pay in order for their children to play football.

“A sense of disconnect exists between juniors and the state governing bodies and FFA. That disconnect also extends to the A-League according to what I’ve been told in submissions.

“FFA’s mantra of community engagement being critical to success should apply to them also because there are a lot of people out there who don’t feel part of the ‘football family’.

“This is highlighted by the fact that I’ve heard the same terms and phrases used frequently in many submissions including ‘undemocratic’, ‘lack of transparency’ and ‘no accountability’.

“The last few weeks have been disturbing in terms of what we’ve heard from the football community and their perception of their relationship with the state federations and FFA.”

Collis said the subject of junior development was poignantly addressed by one contributor whose statement linked the issue with Australia’s failed World Cup bid.

“One gentlemen’s submission resonated with me in particular. He commented that the near fifty million dollars spent by FFA trying to host the World Cup would have been better spent trying to actually win the World Cup by investing it into junior development,” he said.

The final report will be delivered by the end of May.

FA PUBLIC Inquiry Commissioner Gary Collis says some interesting trends surfaced during the two days of hearings in Sydney earlier this week.

The high cost of junior football, especially at elite level, was of major concern, as was the considerable expense involved for coaches to further their expertise and qualifications by undertaking accredited coaching courses.

“It was interesting to speak with some coaches and in particular a former player who is trying to get into coaching but is finding the cost of gaining the correct qualifications prohibitively expensive,” said Collis.

“The other hot topic surrounded the costs involved for youngsters to progress into elite programs. The general feeling was that the better the youngster is the more expensive it becomes for him or her to move up through the various levels of development.

“This is a financial outlay that many working class families cannot afford, so in a way the system discriminates against those who are not as financially secure as others.

“In the media recently there has been a lot of debate about the current state of the A-League and that was certainly reflected in many of the submissions we received.

“The hearings in Sydney went very well, particularly on the second day when we had a lot of contributors and didn’t get finished until well after eight o’clock in the evening.

“There were quite a few groups who came along and I met with representatives from four federation clubs and two individuals who are connected to the media, but also involved in the game as well.

“We go to Adelaide next week and indications are that we will be very busy there so we’re looking forward to hearing what people have to say about the game.”

The FA Public Inquiry will complete its submission and hearing process next week with two days in Adelaide and one in Perth.

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ADELAIDE (at the Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square)

Monday 23 April: Afternoon 2pm – 4pm. Evening 6pm – 8pm

Tuesday 24 April: Afternoon 12pm – 2pm. Evening 5pm – 8pm

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PERTH (at the Duxton Hotel, 1 St George’s Terrace)

Thursday 26 April: Evening 4pm – 8pm

FOOTBALL Australia’s National Public Inquiry into the current state of the game heads to Tasmania this Friday (20 April) for a one-day hearing in Hobart.

The hearing will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor and kicks off at 12.00pm (which is one hour later than the original scheduled time) and runs until 3.00pm.

Inquiry Commissioner Gary Collis said football supporters in the region should take the opportunity to have their say on the game, good or bad.

“This inquiry is a chance for anyone who has an interest in football to air their views on the game,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter if their view is positive or critical, we want to hear it. We’re there to provide a forum to football people so they can say what is good and not so good about our game.

“It’s important that the views of Tasmanians are included in the final report,” he added.