Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer on Thursday formed a new independent organisation aimed at holding governing body Football Federation Australia to account for how it runs the game. The move comes a day after Palmer's club Gold Coast United was kicked out of the domestic A-League by FFA chief and fellow tycoon Frank Lowy for contravening regulations.
Palmer said his organisation, Football Australia, had been registered with the Australian Investment and Securities Commission and was designed to ensure the game operated with "transparency and fairness". Palmer has been critical of the way FFA is run and has lashed out at the salaries being paid to FFA executives while clubs lose money.
"They staged a hugely embarrassing (2022) World Cup bid which blew Aus$46 million ($49 million) of taxpayers' money for one vote, and they are running an A-League competition which is bleeding money from club owners," he said. "The fans, players and people with a passion for football in Australia deserve better and Football Australia will be based on full transparency and corporate governance.
"We want to ensure there is fairness in the game for all stakeholders and end the dictatorship that the game has endured under the FFA." It came as the FFA confirmed that Palmer's Gold Coast was to initiate legal proceedings Friday "to challenge the notice of termination". "We have expected this turn of events and we are fully prepared," said FFA chief Ben Buckley.
Buckley described Palmer's claims as "unsubstantiated" and "wild commentary" which in no way advanced Australian football. "At this stage FFA does not intend to respond to this farcical outburst, which is clearly intended to deflect attention from the real issue - that Gold Coast United FC Pty Ltd under Clive Palmer has shown that it will not comply with the rules and regulations of the competition," Buckley said.
At a press conference, Palmer said the organisation was not necessarily out to topple the FFA but would act as watchdog and forum for ideas in the sport. "What does Football Australia plan to do?," he said. "It plans to publish papers, hold press conferences, seek opinions, lobby the government, lobby the FFA for a better outcomes for a better outcome for Australians and the game in Australia."
Tensions had been building for weeks between Palmer and the FFA after he labelled the A-League "a joke" and Gold Coast club as "insignificant". Lowy responded this week by attacking Palmer for his "illogical, confused and damaging" comments and slammed Gold Coast for wearing jerseys that said "Freedom of Speech" during their last game. Palmer has hired former A-League chief Archie Fraser as Football Australia's chief executive.
FFA said talks were continuing about this Sunday's fixture against the Wellington Phoenix but there was "one priority - to make sure the game is played and the integrity of the competition is protected". Gold Coast players were determined to play their remaining fixtures and Buckley said FFA was "working diligently to get that outcome".