AFC Coach Education Conference ‘making a difference’

Liam Watson

Kuala Lumpur: The 3rd AFC Coach Education Conference successfully concluded in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia on Thursday, with educators from 45 Member Associations benefiting from the engaging sessions.The three-day conference, with the theme ‘Making a Difference’, focussed on various insightful topics aimed at developing future coaches in the sport.
Chinese Football Association (CFA) Coach Instructor Lars-Sven Isecke was a key speaker in the conference where he shared his experience on the evolving football trends in China PR as well as the importance of understanding the culture of football of each Member Association.

He said: “At a conference like this, you talk to a lot of people who understand football and we can share and exchange knowledge. This can be extremely beneficial because you can learn new things from a small or big football country.

“To be good educators, they must understand the cultural differences. Football is still a uniting factor and we all want to play beautiful football and be successful, but it is important to know that if you want quality, it will take time.”

Football Federation Australia (FFA) Coach Education Director Anthony Frost added that participants will benefit from the conference which focused on educating Asia’s future coaches.

“It is a great opportunity to share ideas and it is a positive step from the AFC to invite MAs to attend. From an Australian perspective, we are always learning and improving – and we are excited to come to these events to gain more knowledge.”

UAE Head of Coaching Abdulla Hassan Abdulla said coach education is important in raising the standards of football in Asia.

“Coach education is a crucial phase in developing football in the country. When you develop coaches, they in turn develop the players. It is related so you need a strong coach education system.”

The conference covered a range of sessions including the development and implications of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 while participants also received insights into the coach education practices in Europe.

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Football Australia backs AFC calls for FIFA governance reform

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Image Credit: Football Australia

Football Australia has backed calls from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for stronger governance, transparency and accountability at FIFA.

Pressure continues to grow on world football’s governing body following the collapse of its controversial commercial proposal.

Football Australia said it supports the AFC’s position that the events of recent weeks should be met with “clear and credible action” to strengthen FIFA’s governance systems.

The Australian governing body said its priority was a “transparent and appropriately independent process” to establish what happened, why it happened and where governance, communication and decision-making processes fell short.

The statement follows a joint call from the AFC, UEFA and CONCACAF for greater accountability within FIFA after President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to create a commercial entity involving the sale of stakes in World Cup-related assets was abandoned.

The episode has since triggered a wider governance dispute in football, amid mounting calls for structural changes within FIFA.

FIFPRO Europe president David Terrier argued that the organisation needs sweeping governance reform rather than simply a change of leadership.

Football Australia stopped short of explicitly calling for Infantino’s resignation, instead aligning itself with the AFC’s broader call for institutional reform.

“Football Australia will continue to engage actively and constructively with and through our Confederation, the AFC, and alongside our fellow Member Associations as this process progresses,” the governing body said.

The position gives the AFC further backing from one of its major member associations.

FIFA faces an increasingly public and volatile debate over how power, commercial decision-making and accountability should operate within the global game.

Infantino remains in office and is seeking re-election, with the next FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.

Wyndham City Council cancels stadium deal with Western United

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Image credit: Western United

Following the decision this week to terminate Western United’s Club Participation Agreement – and its involvement in the A-Leagues – the proposed stadium deal now faces an uncertain future.

 

Terminated deal, terminated dream

The plan to build a 15,000-capacity stadium in Western Melbourne – one which has remained in development for over five years – now faces collapse after its proposed tenant will no longer play in the A-Leagues.

Although the $150 million project confirmed a location in Tarneit, as well as establishing partnerships with YourLand Developments and Johnson Controls to propel the vision into reality, building work never began.

Thus, what started as an ambitious project full of potential for Melbourne’s western suburbs, now faces its biggest obstacle yet.

“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for when we entered the agreement, we have a responsibility to make decisions that serve the best interests of our ratepayers, and the decision to terminate this agreement reflects that commitment,” said Wyndham City Council via a media statement.

In addition to being a disappointing development to all parties, the decision serves as a reminder that the football landscape can impact what happens far beyond the limits of the pitch.

 

Facing uncertainty

Following the Australian Professional Leagues’ (APL) decision to terminate the club’s Participation Agreement, Western United is staring into a worrying future.

Throughout the 2025/26 season, the club entered a ‘hibernation’ period, which attempted to resolve financial and legal issues following the liquidation of its owners, WMG Football Club Limited.

In the end, however, Western United’s years in ownership and governance turmoil proved too difficult to navigate, culminating in its removal from the A-League.

But despite the immense disappointment for all players, coaches and staff within the organisation, Western United is standing firm in its optimism.

“This creates an opportunity for new custodians, new investment and a fresh start,” the club said via an official statement.

“The objective must now be to preserve Western United’s identity in Melbourne’s west and work towards a return to the A-League for the 2027/28 season.”

Hope is something which Western United supporters and players have struggled to believe in in recent years, but perhaps this week’s announcement arrives with a silver lining: a chance for a complete reset, rebirth and rebuild.

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