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Independent Soccer Inquiry

Report of the Independent Soccer Review Committee into the Structure, Governance and Management of Soccer in Australia - April 2003

Part 4 - Findings and recommendations

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4.2 - Issue 5 - Voting structure - national

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In addressing how to best structure the governance of Soccer Australia, the Committee’s views are influenced by the requirements laid down by FIFA.

FIFA Statutes, Articles 7.1, 7.2 and 7.4 are relevant to the governance structure:

7.1 states	‘The executive body of the association shall be appointed only by means of election within that association. The statutes of an association shall provide for an election procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the electorate.’
7.2 states	‘(FIFA) shall not recognise the executive body of an association, even on an interim basis, if it has not been appointed in accordance with (article 7.1).’
7.4 states	‘Leagues and other groups of clubs at association level shall only be permitted with the association’s express consent and shall be subordinate to it.’

Further to the voting provisions addressed under ‘Issue 4 Nomination and election of the President and directors of Soccer Australia’ the Committee also paid close attention to the views of stakeholders about the perceived impact of current voting arrangements within the sport. The Committee was unable to ascertain the rationale for the current allocation of votes to members of Soccer Australia shown in the following table.

Member body	Number of votes	Percentage of votes (per cent)
NSW Soccer Federation	7	11.5
NSW Amateur Soccer Federation	1	1.6
Northern NSW Soccer Federation	5	8.2
Victorian Soccer Federation	7	11.5
Queensland Soccer Federation	4	6.6
Queensland Junior Soccer Council	1	1.6
Soccer Tasmania Limited	5	8.2
Soccer Administration of Western Australia	4	6.6
Junior Soccer Association of Western Australia	1	1.6
South Australian Soccer Federation Incorporated	5	8.2
Australian Capital Territory Soccer Federation	3	4.9
Northern Territory Soccer Federation Limited	1	1.6
Australian Soccer Referees Federation	1	1.6
NSL clubs	16	26.2
TOTAL	61	100

The Committee received many submissions calling for a one-state-one-vote entitlement, which is the most common voting structure within Australian national sporting organisations.

The Committee determined, however, that such a proposal is unlikely to address the important concerns of special interest groups who, in the Committee’s view, are justifiably concerned that their interests have been ignored or have not been satisfactorily addressed in the past.

The voting system favoured by the Committee provides for: a) geographical representation (each state); b) special interest group representation (each standing committee); c) the NSL; and d) individual participant representation (number of registered participants).

The Committee does not support the weighting given to the NSL clubs in the current allocation of votes. As discussed at Issue 9 below, the Committee proposes a different relationship between Soccer Australia and a separate NSL. However, the NSL is an integral component of the sport affecting the development of the game in Australia, and in the Committee’s opinion should be entitled to member status of Soccer Australia and a vote.

Recommendations

That:

22
The election of the President and directors of Soccer Australia be undertaken by the national council of Soccer Australia at annual general meetings.

23
The national council of Soccer Australia comprise representatives of state member affiliates, standing committees of Soccer Australia and the NSL.

24
The voting structure of Soccer Australia’s national council be as follows:

each state member affiliate — one vote

for each state member affiliate with individual registrant numbers exceeding 50,000 — one additional vote

for each state member affiliate with individual registrant numbers exceeding 200,000 — one additional vote

for each state member affiliate with individual registrant numbers exceeding 400,000 — one additional vote

the representative of the coaches’ standing committee — one vote

the representative of the futsal standing committee — one vote

the representative of the players’ standing committee — one vote

the representative of the referees’ standing committee — one vote

the representative of the women’s standing committee — one vote

the representative of the NSL — one vote.

25
Representatives on the National Council of Soccer Australia be:

in the case of state member affiliates, the President (or President’s nominee) of the state member affiliate

in the case of coaches, futsal, players, referees and women, the Chair of the national standing committee elected from time to time by the members of the respective standing committee

in the case of the NSL, the Chair of the NSL.

26
The National Council be empowered to replace individual directors or the President by resolution at a duly convened meeting.

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22	The election of the President and directors of Soccer Australia be undertaken by the national council of Soccer Australia at annual general meetings.
23	The national council of Soccer Australia comprise representatives of state member affiliates, standing committees of Soccer Australia and the NSL.
24	The voting structure of Soccer Australia’s national council be as follows: each state member affiliate — one vote for each state member affiliate with individual registrant numbers exceeding 50,000 — one additional vote for each state member affiliate with individual registrant numbers exceeding 200,000 — one additional vote for each state member affiliate with individual registrant numbers exceeding 400,000 — one additional vote the representative of the coaches’ standing committee — one vote the representative of the futsal standing committee — one vote the representative of the players’ standing committee — one vote the representative of the referees’ standing committee — one vote the representative of the women’s standing committee — one vote the representative of the NSL — one vote.
25	Representatives on the National Council of Soccer Australia be: in the case of state member affiliates, the President (or President’s nominee) of the state member affiliate in the case of coaches, futsal, players, referees and women, the Chair of the national standing committee elected from time to time by the members of the respective standing committee in the case of the NSL, the Chair of the NSL.
26	The National Council be empowered to replace individual directors or the President by resolution at a duly convened meeting.