D-Day arrives as Nikou to face first AGM as chairman

Liam Watson

Football Federation Australia (FFA) will hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday the 21st of November to decide who will be included on the FFA’s board as one of the directors.

In a report by The Sydney Morning Herald’s Vince Rugari, there are four names who have been nominated by FFA’s congress.

All four nominees are vying for two spare spots on the panel, with the double void left by Kelly Bayer Rosmarin and Crispin Murray who were directors during the Lowy era and had resigned before the upcoming AGM.

With the pending changes to be made, the flow on affect will be how it impacts the path towards a second division or national championship.

A step in the right direction must be made now to ensure it can be smooth sailing for the planned league structure going forward, which the new board wouldn’t want to stall on.

As to who could join the panel, each of them have unique and different backgrounds and while not directly linked to football, they have all put themselves in the running with different attributes and credentials.

These have been reported to be Shane Healy, Carla Wilshire, Robyn FitzRoy and John Marinopoulos.

Healy has been the media and communications manager for the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne since 2015 but has been more prominent as the general member of radio station 3AW and sister station 6PR in Perth spanning across 15 years.

Wilshire is the chief executive officer for Migration Council Australia which is a not-for-profit advocacy and research body that she helped build from the ground up following her time as chief of staff to the federal minister for multicultural affairs.

FitzRoy is the founder and principal of Ixion Corporation, a board governance consultancy. Beforehand, he was working in the banking sector.

Marinopoulos is a Melbourne-based partner for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, that concentrates on infrastrcuture and urban renewal. PwC took over the reigns from consultancy firm Strategic Intelligence late in 2016, which Marinopoulos was a founder of.

Two of the four losted above will join the current board including chairman Chris Nikou, Joseph Carrozzi, Remo Nogarotto, Mark Bresciano and Amy Duggan. Heather Reid the deputy chair is currently on leave of absence due to medical reasons but will most likely regain her place when she returns.

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/catholic-church-s-melbourne-comms-boss-in-mix-for-ffa-board-20191115-p53azi.html

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Football Victoria partners with SportsAid for enhanced player safety

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Image credit: Sports Aid

Football Victoria (FV) has confirmed a partnership with Sports Aid, which has been named the Official Medical Partner for all FV events.

The collaboration will ensure that participants in these prominent tournaments benefit from top-tier medical support and first aid services.

Established in 2023, Sports Aid has rapidly positioned itself as a leading provider of medical and safety expertise in Australian sport. Based in Melbourne, the organisation has expanded nationwide, offering its services at a variety of events, from grassroots sports to corporate tournaments.

With over 70 partnerships across the country, Sports Aid’s team of accredited professionals—including first aid responders, sports trainers, and event safety specialists—plays a pivotal role in promoting athlete welfare and event safety.

Under the alliance, Sports Aid will deliver medical personnel, including first aid responders and sports trainers, at FV’s major competitions and events throughout Victoria.

Their on-site presence will provide immediate medical assistance for injuries or health concerns, mitigate risks associated with physical activity, and enhance overall safety for players and spectators alike.

FV’s Executive Manager – Commercial, Chris Speldewinde spoke about the role Sports Aid will play in improving Victorian football.

“Their expertise ensures the safety of our participants, which is paramount in delivering outstanding sporting experiences.” he said in a press release.

Sports Aid’s founder, James Theodorakopoulos, also commented on the partnership.

“We are thrilled to be working with Football Victoria. Our primary focus is on safety, and we’re committed to ensuring that every player and participant has a seamless medical experience at FV events,” he said in a press release.

“It’s not just about responding to injuries, but also ensuring the overall well-being of everyone involved.”

Football Victoria adds Sports Aid on top of recent PILA, VETO Sports and Novotel Preston who all play a specific role in ensuring players involved with FV get the best out of their game.

FV have been focusing heavily on developing local football with facility upgrades, equipment partnerships as well as launching their GO Family football program aimed at improving fitness and building stronger family connections.

This specific partnership with Sports Aid is another that will play a positive role in the sport across the state.

FIFA, Qatar and world organisations launch Legacy Fund

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Image credit: Shutterstock.com/Jose Breton-Pics Action

FIFA has invested $76.7 million into the World Cup 2022 Legacy Fund, in collaboration with Qatar, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Previously announced in November 2022, the fund will aid a number of social programs across the world.

To launch the Legacy Fund, the initiative was presented and signed on an online meeting.

Attendees included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secretary General H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi.

The FIFA World Cup Legacy Fund will be deployed across the following streams:

Public Health/Occupational Health and Safety: The Legacy Fund will contribute to programs which aim to improve working conditions, and health and wellbeing. In particular, FIFA will support WHO’s Beat the Heat initiative, to protect people from the hazards caused by extreme heat and the advance of climate change.

Education: In conjuncture with the WTO and International Trade Centre, FIFA will bolster the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund, a program which seeks to empower female entrepreneurs. 

Refugees: In partnership with the UNHCR, FIFA will assist schemes which aim to strengthen vulnerable peoples’ self-sufficiency and access to basic amenities.

Football development: FIFA will place greater emphasis on finding young talents across remote, marginalised and developing countries through the Aspire Academy and the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, headed by Arsène Wenger. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his pride for the Legacy Fund.

“The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund is a landmark project that builds on the unprecedented impact of the tournament from a sustainability point of view,” he said via press release.

“FIFA is taking the concept of a legacy fund to the next level in terms of reach and impact by tackling key priorities such as refugees, occupational health, education, and football development. I would like to thank the UN Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization for their commitment to, and cooperation on, this historic initiative.”

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the importance of the partnership.

“The worlds of sport and health must collaborate to create safe, clean and healthy environments for all people engaged in the preparation, delivery and legacy of mega sport events, including workers, athletes, spectators, and communities,” he said in a press release.

To learn more about the Legacy Fund, FIFA has launched a website.

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