FFA is failing the fans – it is time for action
cadenhelmers Junior Columnist
When a list of banned A-League supporters was released in the media, Football Federation Australia had a great opportunity to leap to the aid of football fans.
It would have been a great show of solidarity that would have strengthened the bond between the big wigs and the A-League faithful.
You could imagine the reactions of A-League fans had the David Gallop and the FFA leapt to their defence.
"They really care about us." "This is why we love this game."
Instead, the FFA were slow to react. And when they finally did, their stance was weak, their resistance to the battering football was copping in the media was futile.
The result? Fans staging walkouts just a third of the way through games, and eventually not turning up at all.
We have all become accustomed to one of the competition's most passionate groups sitting at one end of Pirtek Stadium donning the red and black. The sight of thousands of empty blue seats was well and truly one to behold. This is the supporters group of a team sitting first on the competition table. A lack of on-field success isn't to blame for poor crowds here.
Then there was Sydney FC's clash with Newcastle last Friday. The crowd was so small it led a leading sports betting organisation to upload a photo of the stadium telling people that if they wanted to go somewhere quiet to relax, Allianz Stadium was the perfect destination.
These fans are not bluffing. They want change.
At the time of writing, we are under 24 hours from a meeting between FFA CEO David Gallop and members of the active supporter groups in a bid to establish a consistent appeals process for fans issued with bans.
David Gallop has a golden opportunity to implement change, a change that will be for the greater good of the competition and the supporters.
It doesn't end at the boycotts.
This meeting will pave the way for the direction of the national competition in years to come, with the goal of shutting down the disgruntled voices.
It is a chance to save the Wellington Phoenix, whose case has been a shambles over the last few months with their immediate future still in doubt.
It is a chance to change the face of the A-League, with independence mooted by some as a possible option.
Most of all, it is a chance to take action and bring back the fans.