View from the Chair: New Committee takes charge, global stance against Infantino, Aust Championship changes, and the call for warring parties to unite.
The past month marks the beginning of an important new chapter for the FSAA, with our newly elected Executive Committee now in place and driving our strategic agenda for the year ahead.
First and foremost, thank you to every member who participated in our recent elections. The FSAA remains a strictly volunteer-led organisation; our advocacy strength comes entirely from the passion, commitment, and involvement of football supporters from every corner of Australia.
I want to extend our sincere gratitude to outgoing committee members Joe Aylward, Travis Davidson, Fab Rodriguez, Craig White, and Chris McCoy for their dedication and hard work over the past twelve months.
At the same time, we are delighted to welcome our newly elected members: Ed Cottle (SA), Victoria Morton (TAS), Jude Bowers (WA), Peter Filopoulos (VIC), and Steve Dettre (NSW). Combining their fresh perspectives with our re-elected members gives the committee a strong balance of stability, strategic vision, and deep football experience across grassroots and professional tiers.
Our updated committee has hit the ground running with a single clear directive: building a stronger, more influential, and respected voice for Australian supporters.
Over the next 12 months, our executive priorities include:
Executing our core strategic roadmap and campaign pillars.
Securing long-term financial sustainability and sponsorship partners.
Strengthening formal working relationships across Australian football governing bodies.
Building a robust, policy platform.
Modernising our constitution to reflect the association's growth.
We are ambitious about what the FSAA can achieve, and we look forward to working alongside our members and key stakeholders to turn these strategic objectives into tangible outcomes.
Standing Together on the Global Stage
Cast your mind back a month: football supporters worldwide were confronting one of the most extraordinary governance proposals in the modern game. FIFA attempted to push through a plan that would have handed control of key World Cup commercial rights to a private equity firm—a proposal developed behind closed doors that directly threatened the core principle that the World Cup belongs to the global football community, not private investors.
The global backlash was immediate and decisive. Supporters, players, clubs, and national associations united in firm opposition, ultimately forcing the proposal to be abandoned.
The FSAA was proud to play an active role. We voiced our concerns across Australian media, raised our opposition directly with Football Australia, and joined international supporter organisations on a global petition demanding transparency and executive accountability. It was a timely reminder that when football supporters stand together, our collective voice cannot be ignored.
The call for domestic stakeholders to unite for the good of the game
The next 12 months will again present critical issues for supporters to navigate—from domestic league expansion and preparation for major international tournaments to stadium safety, ticket pricing, and terrace culture.
To that end, the committee is increasingly concerned by the ongoing public disputes between key domestic stakeholders and the damage this friction causes to supporter and community confidence in the governance of our game.
While the FSAA remains strictly neutral regarding specific issues, our charter commits us to acting as a unifying and common sense voice. As such, we call on all parties to come together in good faith to reach resolutions that prioritise the long-term health of Australian football.
The push back against Aust Championship points changes
On the field, we enter the annual transition period for Australian football. State-based NPL and community competitions are reaching their climax, while attention turns toward the upcoming A-League Men, A-League Women, and Australian Championship campaigns.
Regarding the Australian Championship, the recent announcement of modifications to the competition's points system has been met with widespread public backlash across the football community.
While many commentators have offered varying perspectives on what these changes may or may not accomplish on the pitch, our primary concerns at the FSAA centre on fundamental governance principles: why and how this decision was reached, the depth of genuine stakeholder and supporter consultation, and the forecast modelling used to justify the move.
For a fledgling competition working hard to establish credibility, prestige, and long-term fan buy-in, introducing manufactured structural changes risks undermining the very legitimacy it seeks to build.
Member Exclusive Event: Unpacking Promotion & Relegation
Looking ahead to our upcoming event schedule, I am pleased to announce an exclusive FSAA member webinar: The Argument for Promotion and Relegation... and How We Can Make It Work.
Presented by former APL Administrator and current Bruce Media CEO, Matt Windley, this session will walk members through his detailed A1/A2 System Blueprint (as outlined on Football 360). Matt will unpack the practical mechanics of how an open, two-tiered national pyramid can be structured, funded, and sustained in the modern Australian commercial landscape.
Following the presentation, members will have the opportunity to join a live Q&A to put their questions directly to Matt. For FSAA members, full registration details have already been delivered to your inbox.
The Final Whistle
Silverware also remains to be decided in the Australia Cup. A historic final between South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory promises to ignite the domestic football landscape—a fixture that ensures to spark the conversation and debate around a fully connected national football pyramid.
More locally, to all players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters across the country: congratulations on your contribution to the 2026 season. Community football remains the absolute backbone of our sport.
In the coming weeks, our executive team expects to meet with leadership from both Football Australia and the APL. If there is a specific issue you want raised at the highest levels of the domestic game, please reach out to us. The FSAA exists to give supporters a legitimate seat at the table, and that voice is strongest when it directly reflects our membership.
Enjoy your football,
Patrick Clancy
Chair | Football Supporters Association Australia
