Chris Nikou
{{short description|Australian lawyer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
Chris Nikou is the current chairman of Football Federation Australia and an Australian lawyer.
Career
= Football =
Nikou's interest in football began as a player in a local suburban competition in Melbourne. He gradually gained influence in football after he was appointed as a Director of Football Federation Victoria (served from 2003 – 2008). In 2011, he became Company Secretary of A-League club Melbourne Victory (from April 2011 – October 2014).
Nikou was elected Chairman of Football Federation Australia in November 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-19/ffa-elects-chris-nikou-as-new-chair-to-replace-steven-lowy/10510310|title=Chris Nikou elected FFA's chair as the post-Lowy era begins|date=2018-11-19|website=ABC News|access-date=2019-02-25}} He had served as a Director of Football Federation Australia since 2014.
Previously, Nikou was a member of the organising committee for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup held in Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/appointments/10207-middletons-partner-appointed-to-football-cup-board|title=Middletons partner appointed to Football Cup Board|last1=Reporter|last2=Reporter|date=2012-06-01|website=www.lawyersweekly.com.au|access-date=2019-03-06}}
During 2018, Nikou was a member of the Congress Review Working Group set up at the request of FIFA to resolve an impasse in governance reforms at Football Federation Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/fifabacked-congress-group-rejects-ffa-concerns-as-/3493152/|title=FFA concerns rejected in ugly standoff|website=Tweed Daily News|access-date=2019-03-06}}
= Cricket =
From 2011 to 2018, Nikou was a director of the Melbourne cricket club, the Melbourne Renegades, an Australian professional Twenty20 cricket club. They compete in Australia's Twenty20 cricket competitions, the Big Bash League and the WBBL. Nikou committed to resign from the Melbourne Renegades if re-elected to the board of Football Federation Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/nikou-draws-line-in-the-sand-after-ascending-to-ffa-s-top-job-20181119-p50gys.html|title=Nikou draws 'line in the sand' after ascending to FFA's top job|last=Rugari|first=Vince|date=2018-11-19|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-03-06}}
= Football Federation Australia =
Nikou was elected Chairman of Football Federation Australia in November 2018 and became the first Chairman of FFA who was not a member of the Lowy family.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/in-his-own-words-who-is-new-ffa-chairman-chris-nikou/news-story/0625f546342d1bf81c9aa3c4eae12b1a|title=Who is Chris Nikou, new FFA chairman, quotes, football experience|date=2018-11-19|website=Fox Sports|access-date=2019-02-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com.au/football/australian-a-league/story/3703287/chris-nikou-elected-chair-of-football-federation-australia-heather-reid-appointed-deputy|title=Nikou elected chair of Football Federation Australia|date=2018-11-19|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2019-03-06}} The new Chairman promised a more responsive governing body for football in Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/new-football-federation-australia-chair-chris-niko/3580294/|title=Fans come first: FFA seeking better relationship with fans|website=Chronicle|access-date=2019-02-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5766682/new-ffa-chair-chris-nikou-ready-to-listen/|title=New FFA chair Chris Nikou ready to listen|last=Warren|first=Adrian|date=2018-11-19|website=The Courier}} As promised,{{Cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league-expansion-first-order-of-business-for-new-ffa-chair-nikou|title=A-League expansion first order of business for new FFA chair Nikou|website=The World Game|access-date=2019-02-25}} Nikou announced the two new A-League expansion clubs to join the competition in 2019 and 2020, just one month after becoming FFA Chairman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/a-league/aleague-expansion-ffa-goes-west-in-massive-move-for-football/news-story/9efccb01ea1051731ab0f55e8f5c1ad4|title=A-League expansion: New teams, second division announcement, Lucy Zelic reacts|website=www.news.com.au|access-date=2019-02-25}} The Canberra & Capital Region was again passed over, but Nikou singled out Canberra as a future expansion location.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/live-stream-aleague-announces-new-expansion-teams/news-story/ac2b462aba29ffeb64e871f35867332e|title=A-League expansion announcement, new teams, Western Melbourne Group, Macarthur South-West Sydney, fixtures|date=2018-12-13|website=Fox Sports|access-date=2019-03-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://the-riotact.com/this-one-hurts-the-most-canberra-misses-out-on-securing-an-a-league-licence-again/278469|title=This one hurts the most: Canberra misses out on securing an A-League licence again|last=Gavel|first=Tim|website=The RiotACT|access-date=2019-03-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/canberra-officially-snubbed-for-a-league-but-ffa-signals-open-future-20181213-p50lyd.html|title='This isn't the end': Canberra A-League bid refuses to die after snub|last=Dutton|first=Chris|date=2018-12-13|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-03-06}}
In January 2019, Nikou announced the termination of contract for Alen Stajcic the coach of the Australian women's team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/stunned-reaction-to-matildas-coach-alen-stajcics-sacking/news-story/c51107a989e6eff5886bdd16c44fde30|title=Alen Stajcic sacked in Matildas coaching bombshell: Shock over 'disgrace'|website=www.news.com.au|access-date=2019-02-25}} This announcement has been controversial.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-27/matildas-alen-stajcic-sacking-ffa-boss-nikou-breaks-silence/10754040|title=Sacking Matildas coach Stajcic 'the right decision' says FFA boss|first=Tracey|last=Holmes|author-link=Tracey Holmes|date=2019-01-27|website=ABC News|access-date=2019-03-06}}
Nikou has been nominated for a position on the Executive Committee of the Asian Football Confederation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ffa.com.au/news/ffa-chairman-chris-nikou-nominated-afc-executive-committee|title=FFA Chairman Chris Nikou nominated for AFC Executive Committee|website=Football Federation Australia|access-date=2019-03-06}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com//afc/documents/pdffiles/afc-candidates-for-election-2019|title=Candidate List 2019|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303200118/http://www.the-afc.com:80/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-candidates-for-election-2019 |archive-date=2019-03-03 |access-date=}} Chris Nikou, was elected on a four-year term, the second Australian ever to serve on the Executive Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).{{Cite web|url=https://ministryofsport.com.au/ffa-chair-chris-nikou-elected-to-afc-executive-committee/|title=FFA Chair Chris Nikou Elected To AFC Executive Committee|date=2019-04-09|website=Ministry of Sport|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ffa.com.au/news/ffa-chair-chris-nikou-elected-afc-executive-committee|title=FFA Chair Chris Nikou elected to AFC Executive Committee|website=Football Federation Australia|language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}}
In the early part of 2019, Nikou and the new Football Federation Australia Board have been actively addressing a number of controversial issues in Australian football.{{Cite web|url=https://footballtoday.news/features/ffa-board-the-first-100-days|title=FFA Board: the first 100 days {{!}} FootballToday.news|website=footballtoday.news|access-date=2019-03-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/football/australian-a-league/0/blog/post/3851130/exclusive-chris-nikou-talks-to-espn-about-re-engaging-australias-fractured-football-community|title=Exclusive: Chris Nikou talks to ESPN about re-engaging Australia's fractured football community|date=2019-05-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}} The National Club Identity Policy will be replaced.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ffa.com.au/news/football-federation-australia-announces-changes-national-club-identity-policy|title=Football Federation Australia announces changes to National Club Identity Policy|website=Football Federation Australia|access-date=2019-03-19}} Australia's position in the Asian Football Confederation has been discussed,{{Cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australia-can-still-strengthen-fragile-asian-status|title=Australia can still strengthen 'fragile' Asian status|website=The World Game|access-date=2019-03-19}} including support of the current leadership.{{Cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/pfa-slams-ffa-support-of-controversial-afc-boss|title=PFA slams FFA support of controversial AFC boss|website=The World Game|access-date=2019-03-19}} The bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup has been confirmed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/ffa-boss-chris-nikou-says-australias-bid-for-the-2023-womens-world-cup-needs-asian-support/news-story/15a11ec3f1f55ea10ac1707dc7b593a9|title=FIFA Women's World Cup: Australia's bid to host 2023 World Cup, expressions of interest, FIFA, Matildas, AFC|date=2019-03-13|website=Fox Sports|access-date=2019-03-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/nsw-government-backs-australias-fifa-womens-world-cup-2023-bid|title=NSW Government backs Australia's FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 bid|website=MyFootball|date=30 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausbid2023.com/bidding-process|title=Bidding Process|website=FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Bid|language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}} Issues surrounding facilities, commercial arrangements, and independence of the A-League competition are under consideration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/state-of-the-game-ffa-s-task-to-fix-australian-football-20190315-p514jn.html|title=State of the game: FFA's task to fix Australian football|last=Bossi|first=Dominic|date=2019-03-15|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-03-19}} In July 2019, it was announced that the national competitions would be independent and move to a body controlled by the clubs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/07/01/ffa-reaches-in-principle-agreement-for-independent-a-league/|title=FFA reaches in-principle agreement for independent A-League|website=The Roar|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-17}}
In August 2019, Nikou announced plans to establish an official heritage committee to help preserve Australia's football history.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/newssoccer/australias-rich-football-history-to-be-honoured-by-new-ffa-heritage-committee/ar-AAFzBBL|title=Australia's rich football history to be honoured by new FFA heritage committee|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2019-09-17}}
See also
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Football Australia officials