By David Gold
February 29 – Australian football chief Frank Lowy (pictured) has responded firmly to outspoken criticism of the A-League from Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer.
Palmer has been vociferous in his criticism recently, even claiming that he does not like football, while engaging himself in a war of words with the Australian Football Federation (FFA).
Football authorities in Australia are currently discussing what to do regarding Gold Coast, who are rooted at the foot of the league, and took to the field to play last weekend sporting the slogan “freedom of speech” in place of their Hyatt Regency sponsor logo on their shirts and around the pitch.
Such a move apparently breached league regulations, but the club claimed that they were highlighting the plight of refugees.
FFA chairman Lowy has now spoken in response to some of Palmer’s criticisms and behaviour at a lunch in Melbourne, saying that increased television revenue would help solve some of the financial issues.
“With each passing day it seems the statements emanating from the Gold Coast are more illogical, more confusing and ever more damaging to our game,” Lowy said.
“But I am surprised when these ramblings are taken seriously and given credence and picked up by others.”
The spat with Palmer aside, a key issue between clubs in the A-League and the FFA has been the losses teams have been making in recent years.
Referring to the number of teams the FFA has been forced to rescue from financial collapse, Lowy said: “FFA is not a bank, it can’t always be there to bail out clubs that haven’t played their role.
“The FFA gives the clubs A$1.25 million (£845,500/$1.34 million/€1 million) a year from the broadcast rights.
“I am confident when the new deal is struck that we will be able to provide funding to cover, or close to covering, the salary cap [A$2.25 million/£1.5 million/€1.8 million/$2.42 million] of the clubs.
“This will remove the single biggest cost burden from the clubs and leave them to focus on other important matters.
“The FFA is here to assist clubs in whatever way it can.
“But it cannot do everything [or] be all things to all clubs in all situations.”
Lowy went on to say that he would not become embroiled in a direct public dispute with Palmer, insisting: “That is not the way I do business and I will not get in to a public slanging match.
He also defended the state of Australian football.
“Things are going better now than at any time since our reform of the game started in 2003,” he said.
“Unfortunately, over the past couple of weeks there has been an outbreak of commentary that has created a lot of controversy, and this is unfortunate, because most of it is a sideshow to the main game.”
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