Dear Ben, an open letter to the FFA

Alistair Hogg wrote to Football Federation Australia following the decision to axe the North Queensland Fury from the Hyundai A-League next season. You can follow him @alistairjhogg.

Dear Ben,

I want to like the FFA and the A-League. I really, really do. But you’re making it so hard.
When a new Australian football league was announced in 2004 I, along with thousands of other fans was over the moon at the prospect of a bright new era for the domestic game in this country.

I immediately took out a membership and was a passionate supporter of my club – barely missing a game until the 2010/11 season when I finally decided to let the membership lapse because I was fed up with the game’s governing body and felt my match day experience had diminished to the point where it was simply not worth my time and money. It’s a decision I have sadly not regretted for one minute throughout the past season.

I still watch and thoroughly enjoy A-League matches on television, but no longer consider attending due to the exorbitant prices and total lack of understanding and engagement the FFA shows towards supporters. I’m not an ‘Ultra’, I don’t occupy a spot in a ‘Home End’ – I’m just an ‘average’ fan who loves the atmosphere of a sporting match. Only this season – when I have been completely disengaged as a fan – have I objectively been able to see the damage that you have inflicted upon the game.

In the almost six seasons of Hyundai A-League action, the on-field standard of play has never been better than it’s been in 2010/11. In almost any other sport throughout the world, this would translate into better crowds (both in volume and passion for the game), better media coverage and improved goodwill for the game. Although it seems to have had exactly the opposite effect here. Do you have any idea how shameful that is when you are blessed with such an entertaining product? The FFA’s inability to market the game, unwillingness to engage with supporters and questionable decision to place our entire cache of golden eggs in a fateful 2022 World Cup basket has got us to this point.

In the last 24 hours, I’ve also read with great disappointment that you have made the decision to axe North Queensland Fury from the A-League. It’s no secret they’ve been struggling both on and off the field. While I’m truly saddened by the news and disagree with your call, let’s just pretend for a minute that I agree with the decision. Let’s say I also believe that Fury has no future in the A-League…

When do you think would be a good time to sound the death knell? (this is not a trick question – the answer is staring you right in the face).

NOT DURING THE FINALS SERIES!

What on earth are you thinking? Even IF North Queensland has to go and even IF the Fury cannot be salvaged (or even just be put on hiatus for a year), what on God’s earth possessed you to do it now?
In case you haven’t noticed, there are still three very good football teams vying for their first ever Championship, including what many are describing as one of the best teams ever to contest the A-League. Did you not for one moment consider it may be slightly disrespectful to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Central Coast to be wielding your bloody axe before the last ball has been kicked in anger? But more importantly, what message does this send to fans, the media and other codes?

Could you EVER imagine the AFL or NRL discontinuing a franchise during their Finals Series? Could you imagine Demetriou or Gallop pulling the plug on a team as their entire season reaches a crescendo? Of course they wouldn’t.

Look – we know the FFA doesn’t like comparing itself to other codes, but:

1) You spent half of Monday using Twitter (to dictate, not engage) and compare your Grand Final ticketing prices to the AFL and NRL.
2) While you’ll never go on record with it, Demetriou and to a lesser degree (with all due respect), Gallop are tremendous ambassadors for their respective codes. Fans might not like them all the time, but they cannot possibly dispute that the sports are moving forward. The same unfortunately can’t be said for your management of football in Australia. Not only are fans fed up with the management of the FFA, but the game (at least on a domestic scale) is regressing – despite the on-field quality being arguably the best it’s ever been – go figure!!

Additionally, Demetriou and Gallop are always visible. They are passionate spokespeople for their sports and will be on hand to promote and defend it when appropriate. Other than our World Cup bid, I can’t honestly remember a time when the FFA has been proactive in the media. You have to be one of the most reactionary organisations I’ve ever come across which is a damn shame. Even as recently as a fortnight ago when a Melbourne newspaper labelled fans as ‘violent’ and created what many described as ‘football hysteria’ you did nothing until a pithy written statement was released late in the afternoon. If this had been any other sport, the league figurehead/s would have been on the airwaves within an hour to vigorously stand up for their code.

I honestly don’t believe you realise what you’ve got. Australian football fans are passionate and they have the ability to be your best friend if you would only realise this. They’re not looking for a war (like many in your ivory towers perceive). They’re just looking to be represented by a governing body that does what is best for the game and gives football the most chance of a prosperous, long term future in Australia. I fear that with each passing day, you’re losing more and more supporters as a result of your poor communication, worse marketing and overall attitude towards the Australian football fan.

Fix it before it’s too late.