Football Australia#Administration

Football Australia's origins lie as far back as 1911, with the formation of the "Commonwealth Football Association".{{cite news| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19961665 | title=Football – Commonwealth Association| work=The Brisbane Courier | date=16 April 1914 | access-date=18 October 2013}} This body was then superseded by the Australian Soccer Football Association, which was formed in 1921, with its headquarters in Sydney.{{cite web|title=Timeline of Australian Football|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/timeline.shtml|publisher=migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au|access-date=18 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217101940/http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/timeline.shtml|archive-date=17 December 2014}} The Australian Soccer Football Association operated for forty years, was given FIFA provisional membership in November 1954{{cite book |last=Roy Hay |first=Bill Murray |date=2014 |title=A History of Football in Australia: A Game of Two Halves |publisher=Hardie Grant Books |page=291 }} and this was confirmed in June 1956,{{cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19560611-1.1.14.aspx|title=Come back in 2 years, says FIFA|date=11 June 1956|agency=Reuters, United Press International|work=The Straits Times}} however in 1960, the association disbanded after being suspended from FIFA for the poaching of players from overseas. In 1961 the Australian Soccer Federation was formed as a potential successor to the former governing body for the sport. However, this association was refused re-admittance to FIFA until outstanding fines had been paid, which was later done in 1963, seeing the new national body admitted to FIFA.

Isolated from international football, Australia repeatedly applied to join the Asian Football Confederation in 1960,{{cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19600808-1.2.106.aspx|title=AFC turns down an application by Australia|date=8 August 1960|work=The Straits Times}} and in 1974{{cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19740915-1.2.100.aspx|title=AFC turn down Aussie application|date=15 September 1974|work=The Straits Times}} but were denied in all requests. Australia with New Zealand eventually formed the Oceania Football Federation (now Oceania Football Confederation) in 1966.{{cite web | url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/AboutOFC/tabid/182/PageContentType/HISTORY/language/en-US/Default.aspx | title=History | publisher=oceaniafootball.com | access-date=18 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104014920/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/AboutOFC/tabid/182/PageContentType/HISTORY/language/en-US/Default.aspx | archive-date=4 November 2012 | url-status=dead }} Australia resigned as an OFC member in 1972 to pursue membership with the AFC, but they rejoined in 1978.[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/index.cgi?sID=23 OFC History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://web.archive.org/web/*/http:/ |date=* }} oceaniafootball.com{{cite web|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19760301-1.1.24.aspx|title=Oceania admit Taiwan and Aussies quit|date=1 March 1976|agency=Reuters, United Press International|work=The Straits Times}}

In 1995, the Australian Soccer Federation formally changed its name to Soccer Australia.

In 2003, following Australia's failure to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, allegations of fraud and mismanagement were levelled at Soccer Australia by elements within the Australian Press including the ABC.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s826700.htm|title=The World Today – Soccer Australia reforms|website=www.abc.net.au|date=December 2023 }} Soccer Australia commissioned an independent inquiry known as the Crawford Report as a result of the Australian Government's threat to withdraw funding to the sport. The Australian Government could not interfere as any political interference would have constituted a breach of FIFA Statutes. The findings of the report were critically analysed by the board of Soccer Australia who believed that the recommendations contained therein were not capable of being implemented. The report recommended, among other things, the reconstitution of the governing body with an interim board headed by prominent businessman Frank Lowy. Some three months after Lowy's appointment Soccer Australia was placed into liquidation and Australia Soccer Association (ASA) was created without encompassing the Crawford Report recommendations and effectively disenfranchising all parties who had an interest in Soccer Australia. The Australian Government provided approximately $15 million to the ASA.{{cite episode | title=Soccer Australia officially canned | series=PM | credits=Presenter: Mark Colvin, Reporter: Ross Solly | network=ABC Local Radio | airdate=26 September 2003 | transcript=Transcript | transcript-url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s954773.htm}}

On 1 January 2005, ASA renamed itself to Football Federation Australia (FFA), aligning with the general international usage of the word "football", in preference to "soccer", and to also distance itself from the failings of the old Soccer Australia. It coined the phrase "old soccer, new football" to emphasise this.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/soccers-australian-name-change-20041217-gdz7i2.html|title=Soccer's Australian name change|date=17 December 2004|work=The Age|access-date=2 April 2022}}

On 1 January 2006, Football Federation Australia moved from the OFC to the AFC. The move was unanimously endorsed by the AFC Executive Committee on 23 March 2005, and assented by the OFC on 17 April. The FIFA Executive Committee approved the move on 29 June, noting that "as all of the parties involved ... had agreed to the move, the case did not need to be discussed by the FIFA Congress", and was unanimously ratified by the AFC on 10 September.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=98953/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001725/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=98953/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 December 2013 | title=Other executive decisions | publisher=FIFA | date=29 June 2005 | access-date=25 November 2013}}{{cite web|title=FIFA approves Australia move |url=http://vff.org.vn/news/pdf/fifa-approves-australia-move-650.pdf |publisher=FIFA |access-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019173305/http://vff.org.vn/news/pdf/fifa-approves-australia-move-650.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2013 }}{{Cite web |url= http://www.the-afc.com/english/media/default.asp?mnsection=media§ion=newsDetails&newsID=3945 |title=Put Asian football first: Bin Hammam |publisher=AFC Asian Football Confederation |date=11 September 2005}} Football Australia hoped that the move would give Australia a fairer chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup and allow A-League clubs to compete in the AFC Champions League, thereby improving the standard of Australian football at both international and club levels with improved competition in the region.{{cite news|title=Australia gets President's blessing to join AFC in 2006|newspaper=ABC News |date=16 June 2005 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-06-17/australia-gets-presidents-blessing-to-join-afc-in/1595226|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=18 October 2013}}

In February 2008, the Football Federation Australia formally announced their intention to bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23259207-5006068,00.html |title=Lowy's vision for soccer |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 February 2008 |access-date=25 February 2008 |first=Tom |last=Smithies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205172915/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23259207-5006068,00.html |archive-date=5 February 2009 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/world-cup-bid/2008/02/23/1203467459939.html?page=fullpage|title=Let's land the World Cup|date=24 February 2008|access-date=25 February 2008|

work=The Age | location=Melbourne}} In 2010, the decision was made by Football Australia to withdraw its World Cup bid for 2018, instead focusing on a bid for the 2022 tournament.{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/releases/newsid=1233346.html#australia+focus+2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614221443/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/releases/newsid=1233346.html#australia+focus+2022|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 June 2010|title=Australia to focus on 2022 Bid|date=12 June 2010|access-date=23 June 2010|publisher=FIFA}} FFA failed in its $45.6 million bid for the 2022 World Cup having received only one vote from the FIFA Executive.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/168438/ffa-receive-a45m-world-cup-bid |title=FFA receive A$45m for World Cup bid |access-date=20 November 2009|work=Sport Business}}

On 27 August 2013, Australia was admitted as a full member to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), after they formally joined as an invite affiliation to the regional body in 2006.{{cite web|title=Australia joins ASEAN family|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1165351/australia-joins-asean-family|publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au|access-date=8 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328205759/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1165351/Australia-joins-ASEAN-family|archive-date=28 March 2014|url-status=dead}} However, its men's national team has not played the ASEAN Championship as part of the initial agreement.

On 29 January 2015, after the defeat of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, West Asian Football Federation members reportedly sought to remove Australia from the AFC primarily due to "Australia benefiting hugely from Asian involvement without giving much in return".{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/afc-asian-cup/angry-gulf-nations-leading-charge-to-kick-australia-out-of-asian-football-confederation-20150129-131e5g.html|title=Angry Gulf nations leading charge to kick Australia out of Asian Football Confederation|last=Hassett|first=Sebastian |date=29 January 2015|access-date=1 May 2018|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

In November 2018 with numerous board positions coming to the end of their 3-year term, the bulk of the board of directors were replaced at an annual general meeting, as well as the departure of Steven Lowy as chair of the board, which he did in protest at major changes to the governance and voting structure in the overarching Football Australia Congress that elects the Board.{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/1e07f01991de41d5a68729f3ecb74106 | title=Steven Lowy to quit as Football Federation Australia leader | publisher=Associated Press | date=17 August 2018 | access-date=15 January 2021 }} His position was filled by Chris Nikou.{{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 Football Australia chair Nikou|work=SBS News|date=19 November 2018}} Other board members to be elected were Heather Reid, Joseph Carrozzi and Remo Nogarotto.{{cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/reid-carrozzi-nikou-nogarotto-elected-to-ffa-board|title=Reid, Carrozzi, Nikou, Nogarotto elected to Football Australia board|work=SBS News|date=19 November 2018}}

On 25 June 2020, Australia won the rights to co-host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup alongside New Zealand.{{Cite news|last=Wrack|first=Suzanne|date=25 June 2020|title=Australia and New Zealand win race to host Women's World Cup in 2023|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/25/australia-and-new-zealand-win-race-to-host-womens-world-cup-in-2023|access-date=5 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}}

On 25 November 2020, the FFA Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held. The FFA voted to rename itself to Football Australia. Football Australia Chief Executive, James Johnson, told the media the rebranding would not cost the organisation any money as they already owned the domain and company names.{{dubious|New logo? New letterheads?|date=December 2020}} The name change was seen as a way to unify the branding with the state member federations.{{cite web | url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/football-australia-forecast-73m-loss-558230 | title=Football Australia forecast $7.3m loss | publisher=ftbl.com.au | first=Justin | last=Chadwick | date=25 November 2020 | access-date=25 November 2020 }}{{cite web | url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ffa-rebranding-to-football-australia-won-t-cost-a-cent-as-it-prepares-for-7-3m-loss | title=FFA rebranding to Football Australia 'won't cost a cent' as it prepares for $7.3M loss | publisher=The World Game | date=25 November 2020 | access-date=25 November 2020 }}

On 31 December 2020, it was announced that the A-League, W-League and Y-League would no longer be under the jurisdiction of Football Australia in an 'unbundling' process.{{Cite web|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/australian-professional-leagues-be-unbundled-football-australia|title=Australian Professional Leagues to be unbundled from Football Australia|publisher=www.a-league.com.au|date=31 December 2020}} The newly formed Australian Professional Leagues would take over the running of top-level football.{{Cite news|date=31 December 2020|title=A-League and W-League unbundle from Football Australia in 'historic moment' for game|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/31/a-league-and-w-league-unbundle-from-football-australia-in-historic-moment-for-game|access-date=31 December 2020|issn=0261-3077}} As part of the unbundling, the Australian Professional Leagues would also obtain the exclusive right to use the intellectual property rights associated with the A-League brand.{{Cite web|date=31 December 2020|title=Australian Professional Leagues to be unbundled from Football Australia|url=https://www.a-league.com.au/news/australian-professional-leagues-be-unbundled-football-australia|access-date=31 December 2020|website=A-League|language=en}} These competitions are now known as the A-League Men, A-League Women and A-League Youth.{{Cite news |date=2021-09-28 |title=The W-League is no more — say hello to A-League Men and A-League Women |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-29/australian-football-leagues-rebrand-a-league-men-and-women/100499370 |access-date=2024-10-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

File:FFA state member federations.png

Soccer in Australia has used a federated model of national, states and territories governing bodies since the first state body was established in New South Wales in 1882. Local associations and regional zones were set up within the states and territories as soccer expanded and from time to time informal groups of clubs have augmented the formal structures. Today, there is one national governing body, nine state and territory member federations and over 100 district, regional and local zones and associations.

• Capital Football
• Northern NSW Football
• Football NSW
• Football Northern Territory
• Football Queensland
• Football South Australia
• Football Tasmania
• Football Victoria
• Football West

In November 2021, Football Australia created the inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group (NIAG), an advisory body aimed at helping to foster engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and increase their participation in the game.{{cite web | last=Cloos | first=Teisha | title=Football Australia Establishes National Indigenous Advisory Group | website=National Indigenous Times | date=10 November 2021 | url=https://nit.com.au/football-australia-establishes-national-indigenous-advisory-group/ | access-date=26 November 2021}} NIAG is an advisory body for Football Australia, comprising 9 members of First Nations communities.{{cite web | title=National Indigenous Advisory Group | website=Football Australia | date=9 November 2021 | url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/national-indigenous-advisory-group | access-date=26 November 2021}}

The inaugural members of the group are drawn from all levels of football as well as media, academia, and government: Frank Farina OAM, Karen Menzies (the first Indigenous Matilda{{cite web | last=Lewis | first=Samantha | title=Meet Karen Menzies, Australia's first Indigenous Matilda | website=ABC News| publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=24 November 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-24/karen-menzies-first-indigenous-matilda/100642786 | access-date=26 November 2021}}), Tanya Oxtoby, Kyah Simon,{{cite web | last=Lewis | first=Samantha | title=How Indigenous Matildas star Kyah Simon is using her voice to fight racism| website=ABC News| publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=25 November 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-26/how-indigenous-matildas-star-kyah-simon-using-voice-fight-racism/100639246 | access-date=26 November 2021}} Jade North (former Socceroos defender),{{cite web | last=Monteverde | first=Marco | title=Group to give First Nations people a say | website=news.com.au | date=9 November 2021 | url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/football-australia-establishes-national-indigenous-advisory-group/news-story/5af45e3ab2421d65e4fcb46b81a34a3a | access-date=26 November 2021}} Courtney Hagan, Kenny Bedford, Selina Holtze, Professor John Maynard, Narelda Jacobs,{{cite web | last=Rugari | first=Vince | title='It's groundbreaking': Football is finally getting serious about Indigenous Australia | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=8 November 2021 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/it-s-groundbreaking-football-is-finally-getting-serious-about-indigenous-australia-20211108-p59729.html | access-date=27 November 2021}} and Football Australia's Head of Women's Football, Sarah Walsh. North and Walsh are co-chairs of the group.

The initial focus of NIAG is on supporting and retaining First Nations players and other staff involved in the game, reviewing pathways and programs to football that impact social outcomes, fostering strategic partnerships, as well as developing employment strategies and the organisation's reconciliation action plan (RAP).

{{Main|Australian soccer league system}}

Football Australia organises several national competitions, with state-based competitions organised by the respective state governing soccer bodies.

• A-League Men (ceased ownership of the competition in July 2019){{CN|date=April 2025}}
• Australia Cup
• National Second Division (due to start in 2025){{cite web|url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/football-australia-opens-expressions-interest-national-second-tier-mens-competition|title=Football Australia opens expressions of interest for National Second Tier Men's Competition|date=2 March 2023|accessdate=21 December 2023|work=ABC News}}
• National Premier Leagues
• A-League Women, formerly W-League (ceased ownership of the competition in July 2019){{CN|date=April 2025}}
• Women's Australia Cup (due to start in 2024){{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-10/football-australia-to-launch-womens-australia-cup-in-2024/102080742|title=Football Australia to launch Women's Australia Cup in 2024 as part of Women's World Cup legacy|date=10 March 2023|accessdate=21 December 2023|work=ABC News}}
• A-League Youth, formerly Y-League (ceased ownership of the competition in July 2019){{CN|date=April 2025}}
• FFA State Institute Challenge
• F-League

• Soccer in Australia
• Futsal in Australia

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