Football Federation Australia (FFA) will establish a Congress Review Working Group including all relevant Australia stakeholders with direct support from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Officials from FIFA and the AFC will travel to Australia in the New Year to work with FFA and other stakeholders to agree terms of reference for the group including objectives, composition, mandate and timeline.

FIFA’s Members Association Committee made the decision to support the establishment of the working group at its recent meeting in Zurich where FFA’s efforts to expand its representative Congress were discussed. A resolution to increase representation for the professional game and for women narrowly failed to reach the 75 percent support of Congress members at FFA’s Annual General Meeting on November 30.

Football Federation Australia Chairman Steven Lowy welcomed FIFA’s decision and thanked the Members Association Committee for its support of FFA’s recommendation that a working group be established with Australian stakeholders, FIFA and AFC.

“FIFA’S ruling gives all of us a chance to take a fresh look at how the Congress can best represent the Australian football community, with the direct involvement of FIFA and AFC officials in that process,” he said.

“In a wider sense, this process will enable all Australian stakeholders to work together on a shared vision for our game at every level.

“In the meantime, FFA will be working with the clubs to promote our Summer of Football, engage with stakeholders on a new league operating model and expansion of the Hyundai A-League as soon as possible, continue its work with Federal and State governments on Australia’s bid for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, appoint a new Head Coach for the Caltex Socceroos and continue our preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”