AFC tracking NPL clubs' progress with FFA

With two state federations understood to be supporting rebellious A-League club owners, Football Federation Australia faces a tough week

Football Federation (FFA) is coming under pressure from all angles, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) keen to see the National Premier Leagues (NPL) clubs' association earn voting rights in an expanded congress.

Goal understands the proposed NPL clubs' representative body, which has over 50 members, has been contacted by the AFC this week.

NPL clubs target FFA voting rights

A source has claimed the AFC has also informed FIFA of the NPL clubs' action this week.

Representatives from NPL clubs all over Australia are planning to travel to Melbourne on March 20 when the proposed representative body will be formally established.

FFA is also understood to have made contact with the group this week as it comes under increasing pressure to meet FIFA's deadline of March 31 to expand its congress, which has the smallest number of voters (10) of any national association.

The national governing body's move to expand its congress - which elects FFA's board - was forced after representatives of FIFA and the AFC visited Australia last year.

On Thursday, Goal reported 30 per cent of the 125 NPL clubs around Australia had committed to joining the representative body and that has increased to 42 per cent by Saturday.

A-League clubs demand more power

It is understood Football Federation Victoria, Football NSW and the A-League clubs' association are willing to band together to ensure FFA doesn't get its own way when governance reform is eventually finalised.

FFA needs 75 per cent of the current 10 voters - the nine state federations and one vote representing the A-League clubs - to make the constitutional changes required to expand its congress.

On Friday, FFA pushed back a planned meeting with state federations, A-League clubs and Professional Footballers Australia to March 17 to discuss congress expansion - the second time the meeting has been delayed.