CONGRESS PEACE DEAL FREEZES OUT FFA - Sports News

All the state federations, players union PFA and all 10 A-League clubs have hammered out a deal which will see sweeping changes brought into the way Australian football is run, including a standalone A-League working under the FFA, but independently.

The peace deal - which has brought a few rogue state federations back on board after apparently siding with the FFA - appears to follow the model proposed by the FIFA-instigated Congress Review Working Group, published last month.

FFA chairman Steven Lowy had threatened to stand down unless he got the backing of federations for much more limited changes proposed but now it seems the various federations have now agreed a deal without the FFA included.

A joint statement from all the state federations, the APFCA (representing the A-League clubs) and the PFA said a series of resolutions to change the FFA constitution in line with the agreed proposals would be put forward at a midday meeting on Tuesday to ratify the agreement.

And they said they believe the "new resolutions reflect a unity of purpose and shared ambitions for Australian football to realise its remarkable potential."

It added: "The resolutions strengthen the governance and oversight of Australian football with:

"A broader representation of stakeholders within the FFA Congress.

"Full participation of women at all levels of football governance, including the establishment of a women's football council for the first time.

"Formation of various standing committees that seek to improve stakeholder engagement, corporate knowledge and strengthen governance.

"Improved financial reporting in accordance with international financial reporting standards

"Establishment of a defined and transparent pathway for for new FFA Congress members, including for appropriately instituted bodies representing key stakeholders of the game

"A defined, transparent and collaborative whole of game pathway for professional football, including and an alternative A-League Governance Model

"And further alignment of the FFA Constitution with FIFA and AFC Statues."

The move comes after a late bid by FFA executives on Friday afternoon to demand federations fall into line with their limited changes, dismiss the congress proposals and begin work on a new more limited model.

Now though that FFA plea to block the changes seems to have backfired and galvanised resistance.

Unless chairman Steven Lowy can strongarm smaller state federations back into line to block the vote on Tuesday, it seems inevitable now the changes will go through, and will likely lead to the exit of the Lowy family from Australian football.

It will also stop any moves by FIFA to suspend Australia from international football, and allow the Socceroos to defend their Asian Cup crown in January, and the Matildas to compete at the Women's World Cup in France.

The joint statement added: "[We] look forward to ongoing collaboration to unify football."

This afternoon the peace deal was hailed by fledgling fans group Football Supporters Australia.

They added: "This is a welcome development. FSA will continue to advocate for full representation of fans in new #governance structures via Congress - reforms must be ongoing that give fans (major stakeholder group, not just SIG) a place a the table."