Mining magnate launches rival football body in Australia

Mining baron Clive Palmer Thursday launched Football Australia to replace his rival Frank Lowy-headed Football Federation Australia (FFA), that has been running the game in the country.

Palmer said that former A-League chief Archie Fraser would head the organisation. Fraser is a former senior FFA employee and an ex-CEO of the St Kilda Football Club.

Palmer’s announcement comes barely 24 hours after the FFA decided to take back the Gold Coast United license after Palmer continued to defy the FFA. Palmer owns the Goal Coast United football club.

Palmer said he will challenge FFA decision to revoke his A-League licence in the courts.

Palmer said Football Australia has been registered with the Australian Investment and Securities Commission.

Palmer claimed FFA has become incompetent at both a domestic and international level and Football Australia is aimed to replace it.

“The FFA has lurched from one disaster to another and needs to be replaced. They staged a hugely embarrassing World Cup bid which blew $46 million of taxpayers’ money for one vote and they are running an A-League competition which is bleeding money from club owners,” Palmer 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,” he said.

Palmer said he had roped in the best administrators in Australian sport.

FFA chairman Lowy said that he would comment on the situation only after hearing Palmer.