Fox Sports news is talking about clubs back in training May 4th, all clubs possibly based in Sydney.
FFA Governance
Fox Sports news is talking about clubs back in training May 4th, all clubs possibly based in Sydney.
Fox Sports news is talking about clubs back in training May 4th, all clubs possibly based in Sydney.
Aussie sports update, via Sydney radio reports:
NRL “innovation commissioner” Wayne Junior Pearce says the key stakeholder determining the season structure is the broadcaster, players association talking bio security measures etc
AFL now talking openly about bubble(s)
Rugby is a slow-mo train smash. Ex wallaby captains and players now (figuratively) brawling in public.
FFA....?
https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/we-haven-t-heard-a-thing-reddy-demands-clarity-on-a-league
I have to say I find it very strange that no update whatsoever was given yesterday despite it being widely known that it was the day that the review of the current position would take place. Even more strange that even players are in the dark as to what is happening.
It makes me wonder if the news may be particularly grim, and they're trying to figure out how to package it.
The FFA, Feds, A-league, States and Government will all have to agree. So if yesterday was FFA and A-League then lets hope today and tomorrow the others can get a on board.
I don't think anyone is expecting any agreement on anything yet, just a direction/strategy/plan/justfrickinsomething.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) today re-confirmed its intention to resume the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season as soon as possible, identifying a number of criteria that need to be satisfied before a firm date for the resumption could be set. Those criteria include the sustainable provision of:
- Player and staff Health and Safety threshold requirements
- State and Federal border restrictions being lifted
- Large gathering restrictions allowing for the required squads and support staff to gather
- Social distancing protocols being agreed with governments to allow the holding of professional games
The FFA confirmed that it is in ongoing dialogue with government health authorities on all of these elements with thresholds for activation being identified.
Any recommencement would require an initial period of training and conditioning for club squads in order to ensure both the health and safety of the Hyundai A-League's elite players and the integrity of the competition.
FFA Chief Executive James Johnson said there was agreement between the FFA and the clubs that the season would be completed, "Our goal is to deliver live, professional football and complete the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season, and we have set a number of criteria that will define when this is going to be possible.
"Our priority remains the health and safety of all players and staff and we will need to be satisfied that appropriate measures are in place to ensure this. Secondly, we will need to meet all government restrictions in place at the time, including state/territory border controls. Finally, any decision to resume will be made in full alignment with Government and its medical advisors.
"We will resume play as soon as possible, and the first stage would see the players return to training. We would then schedule matches.It is difficult to see that process beginning before the end of May, but we will work with all stakeholders to achieve the earliest possible resumption.
"Football takes its responsibilities as a good corporate citizen very seriously, and remains committed to working in partnership with the Government to slow the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, we want to play our part in supporting the social and mental wellbeing of the Australian football family and all sports-loving Australians.
"Ultimately, the coronavirus will have the final say on when we can get the season started again, and completed.
"We want to thank the clubs and players who have been understanding of the current circumstances and worked collaboratively with us in relation to this matter throughout this period. I would also like to acknowledge our supporters, commercial partners and football community who continue to remain engaged and connected during this difficult time, and we thank them for their continued support.
FFA will continue to work with the clubs as well as our broadcasters and provide a further update in May 2020.
Poor Phoenix will probably just come out of isolation before being required to go back into isolation again. Be interesting what the squad looks like and if players that broke quarantine last time will be allowed to return.
What's going to happen with players who are contracted to 31 May only? FIFA were saying that those contracts should be extended to allow for the completion of the 2019/2020 domestic seasons, but I haven't seen anything about this in the A-league context (and this is a point raised by Reddy in the article above too).
What's going to happen with players who are contracted to 31 May only? FIFA were saying that those contracts should be extended to allow for the completion of the 2019/2020 domestic seasons, but I haven't seen anything about this in the A-league context (and this is a point raised by Reddy in the article above too).
Its all well and good people wanting decisions to be made but im not sure how they can be when your getting mixed messages from the Federal and States in Australia. NRL is being really bullish about a start date but as far as im aware Queensland still has border controls in place. Despite all their talk havnt seen anything that states the Queensland teams are prepared to relocate to NSW with all players agreeing to it.
Would imagine that's one of the issues the A league is struggling to deal with as well. Would be nice to hear something from them though, then again as the saying goes no news is good news.
Its all well and good people wanting decisions to be made but im not sure how they can be when your getting mixed messages from the Federal and States in Australia. NRL is being really bullish about a start date but as far as im aware Queensland still has border controls in place. Despite all their talk havnt seen anything that states the Queensland teams are prepared to relocate to NSW with all players agreeing to it.
Would imagine that's one of the issues the A league is struggling to deal with as well. Would be nice to hear something from them though, then again as the saying goes no news is good news.
I wonder what that work involves lol
Surely if the FFA can finish the season then Fox is contractually obliged to pay up. I also would have thought Fox would be keen on the content as they must be struggling also.
Despite all the doomsayers. The virus figures from Aus and NZ are looking promising. Australia are not trying to eliminate the virus like us and will get to a stage where they will open things up slowly and try and contain it to low figures. In this scenario surely professional sport in a controlled (no crowds) environment will be a possibility. The government there has already shown there backing to get NRL running again. I think the A league is doing the right thing in keeping there options open during the longest off season in sport.
Player contracts and how the Nix can be involved if things resume is another thing though. How long can the clubs hang in there in this environment is another question.
What's going to happen with players who are contracted to 31 May only? FIFA were saying that those contracts should be extended to allow for the completion of the 2019/2020 domestic seasons, but I haven't seen anything about this in the A-league context (and this is a point raised by Reddy in the article above too).
Didn't FIFA announce something about players with expiring contracts having them extended to the end of current seasons?
What's going to happen with players who are contracted to 31 May only? FIFA were saying that those contracts should be extended to allow for the completion of the 2019/2020 domestic seasons, but I haven't seen anything about this in the A-league context (and this is a point raised by Reddy in the article above too).
Didn't FIFA announce something about players with expiring contracts having them extended to the end of current seasons?
From memory they issued some sort of recommendation/guideline, but I have no idea how much weight that actually has.
In an expansive radio interview with Sportsday WA, Sage revealed several key issues facing the future of the Australian top-flight such as the relationship between the A-League and Fox Sports, the timeframes involved in the A-League's resumption, the future of Glory, how professional sport will look, player stand-downs and a possible hub location should A-League fixtures resume.
“We haven’t received our distribution from the broadcast, which we always get on the 15th of every month. So that hasn’t been forthcoming. We can’t say it won’t come but the FFA have not yet received it from Fox."
“All the clubs want to finish [the A-League season]. We want a premier, we want a finals series – it’s imperative also for the Asian Champions League – we want it to happen. It hasn’t been able to happen because of border closures etc, they’re government restrictions.”
“There’s a fantastic little stadium called Bluetongue [Central Coast Stadium] on the Central Coast there."
“It’s a beautiful little stadium, we know we can’t have crowds so it’s not a big stadium, but it would host. That was the plan before the border restrictions had started. I would give a big tick to that."
So Australia now has a mobile tracing app. And they are talking about slowly easing some of there restrictions. With a government announcement on May 11 (Same day as NZ has said they will make an announcement after time at level 3).
For the FFA and professional sport in Australia this will be a date they will be hoping for some news about easing of instate border restrictions. So I wouldn't expect any decisions out of FFA until after this date at the earliest. The longer they can wait probably the better as more information about the virus will give more certainty about any decision of finishing the season.
Things are now tracking favorably in Australia. Lets hope it stays that way.
Former Socceroo midfielder Kasey Wehrman is adamant "real football people" like Mark Viduka and FFA CEO James Johnson have the passion, standing, and ideas to boost the game in a post-Coronavirus Australia.
The James Johnson-lead FFA initiative to corral an all-star panel of male and female football experts for technical advice has been well received, giving the game a PR boost. But two key elements need addressing.
Within FFA’s governance structure, if the panel is an ad-hoc committee it risks becoming a toothless tiger.
Why? Because it will lack real authority. The panel needs decision-making influence.
It needs to be a legitimate sub-committee for it to be most effective. Sauce
FFA chief executive James Johnson has admitted it's too early to say if all 11 existing A-League clubs will survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson is confident the competition will resume in the next couple of months to complete the 2019-20 season but with seven of the teams having stood down all their players and football staff, admits the future of those clubs is unclear.
All A-League clubs have applied for the federal government's JobSeeker relief, which Johnson hopes can provide enough assistance to get them through until the league is able to resume.
Well that really inspires confidence
means that the nix could win the comp cos we are the only ones who can field a team!
Wouldn't feel like a win. Good one for the wikipedia page though.
RIP Western United, the club that should never have existed.
I mean, I assume. If one club is gonna fall over surely its them?
RIP Western United, the club that should never have existed.
I mean, I assume. If one club is gonna fall over surely its them?
I imagine that all the clubs outside of the big 4 in Melbourne and Sydney are in various degrees of danger. WU definitely the top of the list, they were struggling even during the season.
Whispers from over the ditch/.
“However, several key figures in the game have interpreted Fox's decision to pay the recent $12 million quarterly instalment to FFA as a sign that it may not completely sever ties with the A-League as was first feared
Sources say Fox executives have been pleased with Johnson's handling of a delicate situation and the respect he has shown the company”.
According to Vince Rugari in SMH, the FFA are exploring the option of taking control of their content production. This is the game changer they need, so they can negotiate deals with any broadcast/streaming platform.
Who was it said, referring to this pandemic, 'the new normal, will not be the same as the old normal'?
Could have been talking about the A-League.
Cash-strapped Football Federation Australia is set to suffer a further $6 million blow to its bottom line next season after losing major sponsor Hyundai.
The Korean car manufacturer will end its 15-year partnership with Australian football after this season's delayed A-League grand final. Hyundai chose not to renew the naming rights deal, which it has held since the league's inception in 2005, leaving FFA in the unenviable position of searching for a new major sponsor in the midst of an economic downturn.
It is the latest in a series of financial blows for the organisation, which has lost three other sponsors in the past year and is facing the prospect of broadcaster Fox Sports walking away from its TV deal, worth close to $60m a year.Neither Hyundai nor FFA would comment when contacted by the Herald on Tuesday, but sources close to the deal suggest the announcement of the end of the partnership will be made in the coming weeks. A-League sources suggest they were informed of Hyundai's decision several weeks ago, before businesses went into lockdown in March, and have already begun searching for a new naming-rights partner.
Who that will be remains to be seen, however Hyundai will continue its support through until the end of the season, despite its contract officially ending on June 30. Sources suggest FFA and Hyundai have agreed to a short-term extension of the deal to cover the remainder of the delayed season, up until a likely grand final that is set to be held no later than August 30.
The value of Hyundai's sponsorship of the A-League has risen to nearly $5m a year, with the car company tipping in another $1m to sponsor Australia's national teams, contributing a total of $6m to FFA's coffers, not including the provision of almost 80 cars each year to the FFA and A-League clubs. It is the FFA's second-most valuable corporate partnership, after their broadcast deal with Foxtel.
While COVID-19 has caused a financial crisis for several industries, Hyundai's decision not to renew its sponsorship was made before it brought businesses to a standstill in Australia.
Public interest in the A-League has dropped significantly during the past two years while the motor vehicle industry was experiencing poor financial results well before the pandemic struck. The impending loss of Hyundai follows the departure of three other key FFA sponsors in the past 12 months.
German supermarket giant Aldi was the naming-rights sponsor of Australia's junior football program, Miniroos, but chose not to renew its deal beyond its expiration in December 2019. The Socceroos are without a major partner after Caltex did not renew its sponsorship, while NAB bank ended its long-term sponsorship of FFA and the A-League last year.
NAB and Caltex had close ties with two former FFA administrators. Former NAB executive Joseph Healy and Caltex chief financial officer Simon Hepworth served on the FFA board lead by former chairman Steven Lowy.
Just walk away
Sometimes relationships come to an end and, when they do, knowing when to just walk away can make everyone feel so much better and get on with their lives. Football has reached that point with Fox Sports.
28 May 2020 | Bonita Mersiades
Writer, Author, Publisher, Activist, Whistleblower
“We have to be strong as a game,” said a ‘soccer’ insider to Fairfax’s Michael Lynch and Vince Rugari in this article. How right the insider is.The delay with announcements about the re-start of the A-League is not due to the logistics of finishing the seasons or to players’ salary demands. All parties suggest that the players are more than willing to take a pay cut to ensure the season is finished. The delay is because Fox Sports will not afford football appropriate television time to broadcast the remaining games, as well as the offer on the table for the remaining three years of the contract.Lynch and Rugari suggest that deal is offering between 50 and 70% less than the current level of $57.6 million (which includes in-kind support); in other words, between $17 and $29 million. My understanding is what’s on offer from Fox Sports is much smaller than that, and is more likely around $10 million.
But regardless of whether it’s $10 million or $29 million, the FFA and the A-League chairmen should do one thing today: be bold and just walk away.
This relationship is over. To Fox Sports we can say: Thanks for what you did back in 2005. Thanks for all the great work, especially through the early years when people such as David Malone and Tony Sinclair were the suits at Fox Sports. Thanks for the talent you’ve shared with us – such as Lara Pitt, Mel McLaughlin, Tara Rushton, Brenton Speed, Simon Hill, Adam Peacock. Thanks for all the former players you’ve given a voice to and helped us get to know – Robbie Slater, Sasa Ognenovski, Mark Bosnich, Andy Harper, Ange Postecoglou and so many more. And thanks to Murray Shaw and Tony Harper for the great work they did behind the scenes. There were some good times, and we loved having you in our homes every weekend. But let’s face it. The relationship has been on the downward slide since at least November 2015 when News Limited papers inappropriately and egregiously published the names and photographs of people banned by FFA from attending matches. (We wrote about it here). It seems clear that Fox Sports doesn’t want football anymore than most of football wants Fox Sports.So let’s walk away.Let’s explore suggestions such as the one made by The Golden Generation for a ‘Netflix’-style FFA TV and put our game into the hands of every single person who plays it, coaches it, referees it, volunteers for it and simply just loves watching it.
No other sport offers what ours does across gender and age groups. No other sport has football’s reach from grassroots to elite, or from local to global. No other sport can bring international football tournaments to this country. And just when our nation and the world needs to rebuild itself and make connections again, no other sport can help Australia’s global reputation anymore than ours.
Let us not accept the narrative that the game is moribund and it is broken.Let us not accept an offer from Fox Sports that is at its heart disrespectful of our game. If they want to put us in the old box of being a ‘wog game’ and irrelevant to most of the Australian population, let them. We say we’re made from tougher stuff than the likes of Peter V’landys, who confessed in an interview with the Ten Network during the week that he took up rugby league as a child as a means of dealing with being referred to as a 'wog'. We also have demographics on our side.
This is our game. It’s time for us to make the decisions about how, when and where it’s played.
It’s time to walk away.
And if FFA and the A-League chairmen do walk away? And can't get another deal off the ground, or one that only pays peanuts? What then? Our fully professional league needs a lot of money to stay viable as a serious sporting competition. No money, no A-League, no Nix. Just saying.
It would be a very big punt/risk just walking away from Fox. You would want to do a power of research beforehand in what other options are out there, and that will take sometime.
Especially if you going to try setup some FFA TV, Netflix-style type service. Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I'd never heard of that idea. Kind of like it. Any other country doing that currently?
$13.99/month for a 24 hour football station. I presume you'd have other leagues showing, not just the A League.
But man you would need to do your homework first. You would need what 200,000-500,000 subscribers minimum?? Australia/NZ big a enough market for that?
It would be a very big punt/risk just walking away from Fox. You would want to do a power of research beforehand in what other options are out there, and that will take sometime.
Especially if you going to try setup some FFA TV, Netflix-style type service. Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I'd never heard of that idea. Kind of like it. Any other country doing that currently?
$13.99/month for a 24 hour football station. I presume you'd have other leagues showing, not just the A League.
But man you would need to do your homework first. You would need what 200,000-500,000 subscribers minimum?? Australia/NZ big a enough market for that?
Let's not sell ourselves short here. It is unlikely that the game will be the same when it returns post covid-19 and most leagues around the world will be smaller versions of what they were. That will include player remuneration and the player pool will be competing for less money in every market. A smaller broadcast deal for the A League will mean less wages for players/coaches etc but this will be balanced out by the lack of better opportunities elsewhere. Players and coaches will have to stay in the A League and earn less, simply because most wont be able to go anywhere else. There will be a massive re-set of salaries that won't mean a drop off in effort or talent. That's my belief anyway.
Clarity on the two new expansion teams license/funding model during current TV deal.
"The deal (which was reported at the time but as usual, with varying explanations in different papers) was that the two expansion teams would buy their licence but would not receive a distribution from the tv deal. Instead they would effectively “get their money back” through a separate distribution.
This had the advantage of not diluting the distribution to the existing ten teams (vital as it’s rumoured Fox were dragging their heals on paying the increase for expansion) and it prevented the State Feds grabbing the money in a distribution of their own."