FFA faces pressure on Stajcic sacking

THE chances of a full inquiry into the sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic could soon increase, with some key state federations believed to be frustrated by Football Federation Australia’s renewed lack of clarity over the process.

FFA chairman Chris Nikou has responded to a letter sent to the board by the federations last month seeking an “understanding” of events leading to the decision to sack Stajcic. The federation at the time blamed an alleged “unacceptable team environment” for its decision.

However, the correspondence is likely to offer little in the way of appeasement to key stakeholders in search of answers, with Nikou writing that “the constraints, including potential litigation, that have applied to the board continue to apply”.

What Nikou did reveal in the letter, on behalf of the board and dated February 13, is that the former FFA women’s committee recommended the gender-equality survey that was ultimately undertaken by Our Watch and used in part as justification for Stajcic’s sacking.

Nikou said FFA had “identified potential issues … of concern” within the Matildas team environment at last July’s Tournament of Nations, and raised these with Stajcic and head of national performance Luke Casserly in August.

That, he said, led to Professional Footballers Australia’s planned 2019 national teams-wide wellbeing audit being “fast-tracked” for the Matildas to 2018, a process in which Stajcic was involved.

He said the alleged issues were also raised at a meeting on August 1 of the former FFA women’s committee, which was then chaired by Nikou and also featured chief executive David Gallop, head of women’s football Emma Highwood, current directors Heather Reid and Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, former director Danny Moulis, company secretary Jo Setright, former Matilda Sarah Walsh and Mia Garlick.