Fraser slams FFA's lack of passion

By Mike Tuckerman

Updated March 02, 2012 13:03:06

Archie Fraser, head of Clive Palmer's rebel body Football Australia, has told ABC Grandstand football's current administrators lack passion for the sport.

Fraser was the A-League's CEO from March 2009 to June 2010 and was later re-contracted by Football Federation Australia (FFA) to try and salvage the now defunct North Queensland Fury, but has since turned his back on the game's official governing body and this week joined Palmer's new association.

Speaking to Francis Leach on Grandstand Breakfast radio, Fraser hit back at Buckley's claims he "burst out laughing" at the news Palmer had established Football Australia.

"If that's the attitude and that's been the attitude towards ... football people who love the game, then go and do something else," Fraser said.

"I don't think he's passionate. I don't think he stands up for our game."

Fraser said his decision to join Palmer's organisation was motivated by a desire to make changes from the grassroots level all the way to the A-League.

And he urged football fans to stand up for a sport he believes is badly mismanaged by the FFA.

"We need to get people behind the whole movement and we need to actually be ... not frightened to put forward really good ideas and create change within the FFA," Fraser said.

"If it was working, we wouldn't be doing it," he said.

His comments come in the wake of a television interview in which Buckley downplayed the emergence of Palmer's group.

"This is nothing more than a farcical stunt to distract everyone from what is the most important issue and that is to play out the rest of the season with integrity and fairness, and make sure the players get to Wellington this weekend to play the game," Buckley said on Fox Sports.

The FFA subsequently issued a terse statement dismissing Palmer's "unsubstantiated claims and wild commentary".

"The comments serve no purpose in any way to advance football in Australia," it said.

Meanwhile, both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA have thrown their support behind the FFA, with both confirming they will only support one association per country.

"The AFC confirms that it recognises only FFA as the official affiliated member association representing Australian football in Asia," the AFC said in the statement on Thursday night.

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted March 02, 2012 12:26:09

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Reds under Kosmina seek more passion

Updated December 20, 2011 07:59:57

New Adelaide United coach John Kosmina hopes clear-the-air talks between him, players and officials will spark a revival for the A-League underachievers.

Kosmina's first training session since his shock return to the club to replace sacked Rini Coolen came after frank discussions between all at the club about turning their fortunes around.

Kosmina has been among the Reds' biggest critics in a weekly newspaper column - and now finds himself working alongside some of those he questioned.

"We got a few things out on the table that weren't going to be exposed today, but they weren't any big deal," Kosmina told an Adelaide news conference on Monday.

"It was probably things that needed to be said."

Kosmina admits his main task ahead of his first match in charge - away to his former club Sydney FC on Thursday - is to rebuild the Reds' fighting spirit.

There was little of that in the 3-0 home loss to bottom side Gold Coast, a performance that forced officials to demote Coolen to youth development duties he is not expected to fulfil.

"I want to make them warriors ... they need to adopt that warrior mentality, but if they don't buy into it it's not going to work," Kosmina said.

"I see a room full of players but I don't see a team in there at the moment."

Kosmina's first session was an intense affair, but the coach cautioned the players needed to continue that for the rest of the season.

"They trained with purpose ... they got stuck in a bit, it was fairly intense.

"But what I spoke to them about at the end of training was 'that's great today, but they've got to come back and do it tomorrow'.

"Then they've got to do it again on Thursday night. Then they've got to do it again next week."

Kosmina reiterated he didn't believe Coolen would stay around the club in his changed role and that he had not spoken to the Dutchman since replacing him.

"I don't expect to," Kosmina said when asked whether he'd spoken to Coolen.

"What can I say to Rini? I empathise with the guy. I've been in this situation before, it's not nice."

Kosmina will coach the Reds while on his Asian Football Confederation 'B' coaching licence.

Football Federation Australia has approved his appointment despite the 'A' licence being the minimum standard allowed in the league.

They have been assured Kosmina is in the process of finishing his qualification and will do so some time next year.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 19, 2011 21:18:38

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