By David Gold
December 2 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) has welcomed and accepted the recommendations of the Smith Review, following the publication of the organisation’s strategic plan earlier this week.
FFA had announced its four pillar plan to boost the national team, the domestic league and grassroots football.
The Smith Review says that Australian players are overpaid and put the blame for the failure of the bid to host the 2022 World Cup on FIFA’s bid process.
“Salaries have increased at an unsustainable rate, out of step with the income the product generates and at a time when the Australian dollar is extremely competitive in the international player recruitment market,” former Sports Minister Warwick Smith said.
“At a minimum the salary cap must be frozen, but it would be appropriate to explore options to reduce the cap.
“Options to adjust or remove the minimum player payment which artificially inflates incomes must also be considered.”
The report reveals that $32 million (£20.5 million/€24 million) is currently spent on player salaries, double what Australian rules football and rugby players are paid as a proportion of the income of those sports.
It was also suggested that FFA costs should be reduced, but Smith (pictured) approved of the quality of the bid for the 2022 World Cup, where Australia lost in the first round of voting.
The report was welcomed by FFA chairman Frank Lowy, who was re-elected to his post last week.
“The Smith Review had the task of examining the structure, governance and administration of football in Australia and I can tell you it was no easy job given the scale and scope of activities undertaken by FFA,” Lowy said.
“We are doing more, for more people, with fewer resources than any other Australian mainstream sport.
“The report brings a fresh insight to our current practices and policies.
“The 11 recommendations contain many timely and constructive initiatives.
“We will accept his advice and work with stakeholders in the game to implement the recommendations.
“FFA has never said we are perfect, but the task now is to make the game stronger in Australia and the Smith Review has made an important contribution to that goal.”
FFA chief executive Ben Buckley added: “The Smith Review acknowledges the direction of the FFA Strategic Plan, but clearly the recommendations call for FFA to sharpen the focus in key strategic areas and to address some of the growing pains being experienced by football.
“We support this view…as a result, the implementation of the Smith Review recommendations will enhance and fast-track our own Strategic Plan.”
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