A three person delegation from FIFA, world football's governing body, and the Asian Football Confederation met several stakeholder groups in Sydney on Tuesday in the first of three days of meetings to help break the impasse over Football Federation Australia's failed attempts to expand its congress.

In their talks with groups representing referees, coaches, women's football, supporters, semi-professional clubs and male and professional players, the joint mission began to gain an unrestricted view of the root causes of each of Australian football's problems.

Under pressure: FFA chairman Stephen Lowy. Credit:Rob Homer

Two senior officials from FIFA, Nodar Akhalkatsi and Luca Nicola, joined by AFC's Ravi Kumar, sought to understand the grievances from each group, their roles in Australian football and, in particular, their concerns with the FFA and the state of Australian football. It was the first step towards establishing FIFA's road map for the future of Australian football governance and establishing how a congress review committee will work.

With officials from the FFA in the room, supporters representing fan groups of A-League clubs spoke candidly of being disengaged. A newly established group representing women's football, Women Onside, highlighted problems with gender balance in the governance of Australian football.