August 12 – The Australian FA, Football Australia, has aligned with continental governing body AFC in opposition to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.
A member of the AFC since 2006, Australia has added to the pressure on Infantino and his aborted privatisation plans for the World Cup by demanding “clear and credible action”. Football Australia aligned with the view of the AFC, but did not call for Infantino’s dismissal.
“Football Australia supports the position expressed by our confederation, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), that the events of recent weeks must now be met with clear and credible action that continues to strengthen governance, transparency and accountability within Fifa,” said a statement
“Our focus remains on ensuring there is a transparent and appropriately independent process to understand what occurred, how and why it occurred, identify where governance, communication and decision-making processes fell short, and ensure the necessary lessons are learned and appropriate measures are taken to strengthen those systems and reduce the risk of such circumstances arising again.
“Football Australia will continue to engage actively and constructively with and through our confederation, the AFC, and alongside our fellow member associations as this process progresses.”
The statement comes days after UEFA, AFC and Concacaf issued a joint letter, signed by all three confederation presidents, that damned Infantino and further sought to oust him from his role.
“Leadership in football is not a possession,” the letter read. “It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it. When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”
Crucial to his survival, Infantino has lost the support of the AFC and the fast bulk of its 47 members. However, the Confederation is not currently supported in its position by Qatar, the UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and East Timor, who have issued support letters for Infantino. In the Concacaf region only Mexico has split from the regional stance that Infantino’s time at FIFA is up. Qatar, the UAE
Football Australia, which co-hosted the breakthrough 2023 Women’s World Cup with New Zealand, has not been a leading voice in the politics and debate over Infantino’s future, but first welcomed that FIFA withdrew the FIFA Football Enterprise plan, even if Infantino had offered member associations a short-term $40 million incentive.
Earlier this year, Football Australia revealed losses of A$15 million, prompting reports that the governing body will axe 20% of its staff.
The UEFA, Concacaf and AFC presidents have said that FIFA does not need to “sell off the family silver” to get more money to federations worldwide, pointing out that FIFA has stockpiled billions in reserves that can, and should be distributed to members.
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