Football Australia welcomes Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as a Legacy ’23 Ambassador

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Annastacia Palaszczuk
Image provided by Football Australia

Football Australia has announced the addition of Queensland Premier The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP as a Legacy ’23 Ambassador.

As a proud Queenslander, Palaszczuk is excited to use her voice to advocate for the advancement of football in her state and support Legacy ’23 to inspire and develop more women and girls in leadership roles. The Premier is committed to creating an equal playing field for all, both on and off the field.

Touching on her new role, the Premier said in a statement:

“I’m excited to be joining such a wonderful group of Ambassadors as part of Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 program. As a woman in politics, I’ve faced many challenges to get where I am today, and I hope that in this role I can inspire young women and girls to follow their ambitions to achieve greatness in whatever field they choose.

“The CommBank Matildas are an incredible example of how hard work and persistence can help shift the needle in sport to where women’s sport is now embraced within our society. I hope the important milestone of having the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023TM in our own backyard will set an even greater standard, putting women front and centre,” concluded Palaszczuk.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson said via Football Australia about of the new appointment:

“We are proud to welcome Ms Palaszczuk to our incredible line-up of Legacy ’23 Ambassadors. It is so important to Football Australia to have the support of leaders like Premier Palaszczuk representing and advocating for our game as we countdown to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

“As exciting as it is to be co-hosting the world’s largest women’s sporting event, the honour has always represented more than the tournament itself. Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 Plan provides a platform for the sport to leverage this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a meaningful legacy for football, the community and the nation, well after the event has been successfully delivered.

“The addition of Premier Palaszczuk gives our Legacy ’23 efforts in Queensland great impetus, and we are delighted to have her join our team. The final 11 months in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM are crucial to our game as we strive towards leaving an impactful and everlasting legacy for the sport.”

Previously announced ambassadors making up the Final XI include:

  • The Hon. Julie Bishop, Chancellor of Australian National University
  • Julie Dolan AM, Matildas cap #1
  • Azmeena Hussain OAM, Director Football Victoria and social justice advocate
  • Narelda Jacobs, NIAG Member and Network 10 Presenter
  • Kate Jenkins, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner
  • Awer Mabil, Socceroo
  • Kurt Fearnley AO, Paralympic champion
  • Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director of Tourism Australia
  • Elizabeth Broderick AO, Special Rapporteur and Independent Expert to the United Nations

The Legacy ’23 Plan, developed by Football Australia, will ensure Australia can realise the long-term benefits of hosting this prestigious global sporting event can have on every community across the country. From economic, social, physical, and mental health benefits to its promotion of social cohesion and multicultural inclusion, Legacy ’23 will introduce new and expand existing programs to ensure the future of football in Australia is stronger than ever before.

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Football Queensland Academy leads Northern player development

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Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has celebrated a successful year of player development in the Northern region across youth and junior football through the FQ Academy.

The FQ Academy is Queensland’s only recognised way for players to achieve state and national team representation and showed significant progress over 2024. The Northern region covers some of Queensland’s rural major hubs, including Townsville, Charters Towers, Ayr and Ingham.

In the Northen region, over 150 players participated in the FQ Acadamy across the U9 to U16 age groups, illustrating the influence of adopting Football Australia’s latest national technical standards.

The success of the FQ Academy in the Northern region was further embellished through the selection of 10 local players in Queensland state teams, to compete at the Girls and Boys National Youth Championships in Melbourne and Wollongong.

FQ General Manager, Football & State Technical Director, Gabor Ganczer, expressed his joy for the achievements in the Northern region.

“2024 has been a tremendous year for football in the Northern region, with significant strides in player development as the FQ Academy continues to play a pivotal role in providing young athletes with access to world-class coaching and competitive platforms that continue to raise the standard of football in the region,” he said via press release.

“The progress seen throughout the region is the result of a sustained, long-term approach to player development, with a focus on upskilling coaches and equipping clubs with the tools and resources they need to ensure all players are supported at every stage of their journey.”  

FQ Senior Manager, Technical (Northern Conference), Michael Edwards applauded the work of the FQ Academy.

“The inclusion of local players in the Queensland state teams highlights the significant impact of the continued investment in Northern football programs, helping to elevate talented athletes to elite levels of competition,” he said in a press release.

“The foundation we’ve laid this year, with the FQ Academy at the forefront, will not only set the stage for greater success in the years to come but also drive the continued growth of football in the Northern region and beyond, ensuring clear and accessible pathways for all players to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.”  

Football Queensland remains committed to developing the level of coaching skill and to enhancing player development in the Northern region in 2025 and beyond.

Premier League’s 3pm Blackout Could End After 60 Years

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Image credit: Premier League

The long-standing 3pm broadcasting blackout for Premier League and EFL matches may soon be a thing of the past.

According to The Sun, the restriction could be lifted within the next five years, potentially reshaping the football viewing landscape in the UK.

The Current Situation

The blackout, which has been in place for six decades, prevents live broadcasting of games played at 3pm on Saturdays.

This rule aims to safeguard attendance at lower-league matches by encouraging fans to watch games in person rather than on television.

The Premier League’s new four-year broadcasting deal, set to begin next season, will maintain the blackout. However, both the Premier League and EFL agreements are scheduled to expire at the conclusion of the 2028-29 season, opening the door for significant changes.

Changing Perspectives

Traditionally seen as essential to protect matchday attendance, the blackout’s relevance is being questioned.

EFL studies suggest that televising matches has minimal impact on crowd numbers, challenging the necessity of the rule.

With a surge in live games on TV and digital platforms, the football community is increasingly debating whether the blackout is outdated.

Currently, the Premier League broadcasts 270 matches per season, leaving 110 games locked behind the blackout, and this has become increasingly controversial with local fans left frustrated at the fact they can’t watch all of their teams games.

Piracy Concerns

The blackout has inadvertently contributed to the rise in illegal streaming. Fans often resort to using devices like “cracked Fire Sticks” to watch Saturday 3pm matches, undermining the very attendance-focused intent of the restriction.

Recently, the Premier League have cracked down on piracy, threatening jail time and/or a large fine for anyone who illegally streams games that are affected by the blackout.

What’s Next?

Although the blackout remains in place for now, its future is under scrutiny. As midweek fixtures are exempt from the rule, every Premier League game this week is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

The decision to lift the blackout will likely come as part of broader broadcasting negotiations, potentially marking the end of a long-standing tradition and redefining how fans experience English football.

With the rule being considered ‘outdated’ by many, the 2028-29 proposed change comes at the right time. Both the Premier League and the EFL can capitalise on an even bigger national TV rights deal, strengthening both leagues’ finances.

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