Demand for ACT boss to stand down over support for Lowy

ACT football chief Mark O’Neill - FFA chairman Steven Lowy’s most influential supporter in the quest to thwart FIFA-endorsed governance reform - has been urged to stand down “for the good of football”.

The president of Capital Football heads up a four-strong rebel faction of state federations threatening to vote down FIFA-backed measures aimed at democratising the game’s Congress at an Extraordinary General Meeting this month, a move which risks Australia being suspended from world football.

O’Neill claims to be acting with the full backing of his 17-strong board and the grassroots clubs under the Capital Football umbrella.

But he has lost the backing of the ACT’s nine NPL clubs with one club president, Tuggeranong FC’s John Thiele, saying the former lawyer should step aside immediately as he leads Canberra towards towards “isolation and irrelevance” in the eyes of the wider football community.

O’Neill is the spokesman for the recalcitrant states - ACT, Tasmania, Northern NSW and Northern Territory - who represent just 18 per cent of Australia’s registered players, yet have the voting power to derail the recommendations of the FIFA-installed Congress Review Working Group (CRWG).

If any three of them vote as a block, then the reforms - which include an independent A-League - will be stymied.

“Mark O’Neill is impeding the process of reform and our concern is this will only isolate the Canberra football community,” said Thiele.

“If he is allowed to continue on this path then when a change of regime comes at the FFA (Lowy has already pledged not to stand for re-election in November), they’re going to look at us and say ‘You’re the outcasts’.

“We can forget about ever having an A-League team, and forget about being looked upon favourably in terms of having a say over anything in the future. And rightfully so.

”Myself and the other eight NPL clubs will do all we can, whilst we’re not (voting members on the CF board) to have Mark O’Neill removed.

“He’s done some good things but if the two biggest states in Australia, Victoria and NSW, can endorse these reforms, then why can’t he?

“We’re trying to apply pressure where we can. Members of his board need to stand up and be counted here. This is their job.

“If they don’t agree with Mark O’Neill - and I know for a fact that many don’t - they need to come out and say it.”

The clubs penned a letter last month demanding that O’Neill fall into line with the vast majority of football stakeholders in supporting the CRWG report, with Thiele adding: “If he’s not willing to do that he should walk for the good of football.”

There is also the possibility of O’Neill being ousted at CT EGM, which can be called at short notice by just one board member.

“That is also a possibility and it would be fair to say that as clubs it’s an area we might be able to influence,” added Thiele.

“The message we want to send to the football community in Australia and also to FIFA is that his stance does not reflect the stance of the vast majority of football clubs in Canberra. So please, if this goes against us don’t hold this against the clubs here. Hold it against Capital Football.

“Mark O’Neill stands up there and says he has the support of his members and the clubs I can tell you right now the clubs do not back him.

“We want what’s right for football. What’s going on right now is not right for football.”

In a letter responding to the clubs’ concerns, which has been seen by The World Game, O’Neill wrote: “For the sake of clarity Capital Football has not rejected the recommendations of the CRWG.

“We have with three other Member Federations raised issues for further

consideration. Capital Football has not opposed any resolutions to be put at an

extraordinary general meeting.

“The Notices for this meeting have not yet been settled. We

continue to engage in constructive dialogue with other stakeholders. That dialogue is

ongoing and incomplete.”

Thiele is concerned by O’Neill’s perceived close relationship with Lowy, believing that may have compromised him.

“I think he has now overplayed his cards and has backed himself into a corner,” he added.

“I believe he’s been too close to Steven Lowy and has let that tarnish his judgement. And now he finds himself in this position, unfortunately.

“Perhaps he is seeking election to the FFA board, I don’t know.

“I certainly feel his days on the Capital Football board are numbered.”

The World Game approached O’Neill for comment.