Football Federation Australia unhappy at FIFA-backed report

Football Federation Australia appears on course for a confrontation with FIFA after rejecting "some crucial aspects" of a review backed by the world body into the structure of football's governing congress in the country.

The congress review working group (CRWG) has made recommendations to FIFA for the expansion of the Australia congress after seven weeks of consultation with key stakeholders in Australian football.

The current FFA congress is seen as one of the smallest in world football and lacking significant female representation.

The CRWG report, which was completed to meet FIFA's Tuesday deadline, has not been publicly released and its recommendations can only be revealed at FIFA's discretion. FIFA commissioned the report to pressure the FFA to comply with statutes around the structure of national governing bodies after trying for several years to force change.

FIFA is reported to be ready to approve the report's recommendations and to demand they be adopted at an FFA special general meeting on Sept. 7. But that seems unlikely after FFA chairman Steven Lowy released a statement on Tuesday expressing opposition to aspects of the report.

"There are many elements of the report which are positive steps and wholly supported by the FFA board," Lowy said. "However, there are also some crucial aspects of the report which the FFA board does not believe are in the best interests of the game and are inconsistent with its guiding principles."

The FFA is thought to have enough support from state federations to vote down the changes. If the CRWG proposals are not passed, FIFA has the power to dismiss the FFA board and replace it with a committee which would run football in Australia.

The FFA's objection is reportedly to the balance of votes which would exist on an enlarged congress. The CRWG recommendations would see considerably more voting power handed to owners of teams in Australia's professional ALeague.

State federations, who are supported by the FFA, fear that structure would diminish the power of grassroots or non-professional football. At the same time, the FFA's recommendations for reform have been rejected by FIFA.

Integrity report calls for hard line on doping, match-fixing

Athletes who pass information to bookmakers may be jailed and match-fixing will become a federal crime if the recommendations of a report into sports integrity in Australia are accepted.

The report, released on Wednesday after a review led by a prominent lawyer, recommends the establishment of a national integrity commission which will have powers to initiate criminal proceedings.

The commission will particularly target match-fixing and doping across all sports.

Major sporting organizations such as rugby league and cricket which already have integrity arms, will be able to opt out of membership but the anti-corruption body will have the power to investigate offending within those sports.

In an address to the National Press Club Wednesday, Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie said "this report presents Australia with an opportunity to safeguard our sport for decades to come."

The report recommends the establishment of a national sports tribunal which would have sweeping new powers.

Suspected drug cheats would be stripped of protection from self-incrimination and witnesses would be compelled to give evidence to the tribunal, which would have the powers of a Royal commission.

Senator McKenzie said the report had been with the government for three months and it had yet to decide which of the 52 recommendations it will enact.

"It is a complex area and I'm taking advice from right across government," she said.

The review found links between organized crime and sports betting and said risks will grow as the betting markets continue to develop.

The Australian Olympic Committee has backed the report which AOC president John Coates called the most comprehensive national response of its kind.

Coates urged the government to act on a recommendation for Australia to sign up to the Macolin Convention, a European agreement on match-fixing.

"The threats to the integrity of sport are trans-national and Australia can no longer sit on the sidelines. We must be part of the global response," Coates said.

The Australian government has established a task force to respond to the report.

"We're faced with external threats of an unprecedented level," Senator McKenzie said. "Of particular concern is Australia's ability to confront the ever-growing threat of illegal wagering on sport and its connections with match-fixing and organized crime." On Saturday 28th of July Maltese racing driver Josef Calleja took part in 4th round of the United Kingdom MSA Time Attack Championship at Oulton Park Circuit.

This year Calleja has moved to a higher class known as Club Pro 4WD which means that now can run his Subaru on a fully sequential gearbox but still uses semislick tyres.

It was another successful race as Calleja’s target was, besides winning his race, to put his name down with the elite lap record holders for Club Pro 4WD to compliment the lap record he set earlier at Oulton Park Circuit in the lower Club 4WD class.

This seemed to be not an easy task since the record stood for the last 8 years at 1:29.917, however Calleja broke this record with the amazing lap time of 1:28.568.