We have not taken our eye off the ball, claims Lowy

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

September 8 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy has hit back at claims that the country’s A-League is suffering because too much attention is being paid to their bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

Archie Fraser, the former chief executive of the A-League who resigned in April, had hit out at the FFA and warned that its “only focus right now…is the World Cup bid and the A-League has been left to become a basket case”.

But Lowy, the multi-billionaire who is the driving force behind Australia’s bid, denied Fraser’s claims and labelled them “malicious”.

Lowy insisted that a new committee set-up by him and headed FFA deputy chairman Brian Schwartz to oversee the A-League while he concentrated on the World Cup bid was firmly in control.

“I’m still involved at the very top level, but the day to day responsibility lies with the committee,” Lowy said.

“This idea that we are focused on a foreign agenda exclusively it’s malicious.”

Fraser had also been critical of the A-League scheduling, disciplinary problems, poor crowds and financial concerns.

“The beginning [of the season] is always a bit tough while the competing [Australian football] codes are at their peak - every season starts that way,” said Lowy.

“At least since we expanded to 10 or 11 teams, it’s a fact of life.

“I don’t think we should be judged by our crowds in that period.

“The financial situation of the clubs is not as strong as it should be.

“But I was talking to our new coach [Socceroos boss Holger Osieck] and he said he was working in Japan five or six years after the J-League started and they had exactly the same problems.

“We need patience, but it certainly isn’t neglect.

“Everybody’s working very hard.”

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