Soccerscene the only online publication dedicated to the Australian and international football industry. It serves as a practical guide for those involved in the business of running a football club and bringing readers up-to-date research and development across all football matters providing insights, discussion and information related to topics that matter.
SportAus release new Trans and Gender Diverse Inclusion guidelines
Yesterday, Sport Australia released a 50+ page booklet detailing new guidelines for trans and gender diversity inclusion in sport, with the overarching goal of making sport more readily accessible to anyone.
With more and more transgender people playing sport, now is as good a time as any to raise awareness on an issue that has needed addressing for some time.
The main message from the booklet is that Australia needs to take a stand and try to set an example by being as inclusive as necessary. That we all need to work together to achieve a standard where we could perhaps be a world leader.
Any deviation from this directive should and won’t be tolerated, so long as everyone works together to, again, allow anyone of any background, gender or otherwise, play any sports.
The full set of guidelines can be found from this link:
We here at Soccerscene support the integration of these guidelines and the idea that sport is for everyone, regardless of age, gender or cultural background.
Caelum Ferrarese is a Senior journalist with Soccerscene.
He reports widely on micro policy within Australasia and industry disruptions at grassroots level.
Football Queensland (FQ) are embarking on a transformative journey.
Seeking to elevate the current refereeing regime on a state-wide level is a high-priority within their objectives. The Referee Strategy plan will run from 2024 until 2026, where the current framework of officials officiating within Queensland looks to be recrafted.
Referees are the unsung heroes of any sport, especially football. The decisions they make as a collective can have historical ramifications. They are ultimately tasked with making correct decisions, while under the microscope of the entire footballing audience, governing bodies and participants all watching attentively on to hear of what the decision may be, which ultimately impacts their respective teams.
The constant pressure, scrutiny and tension they are under does not go unnoticed, nor should their presence. Referring on a global scale is a tedious aspect of sport. It is simple to attract people that are keen to participate within a sport on a playing level. In an officiating role, it is a whole different kettle of fish.
The Strategic Pillars The priority placed upon the recruitment and retainment of officials is a focal point of the FQ referee strategy. Unification of their already established referee base is crucial. Their primary objectives include:
3600 FQ Registered Referees across all formatted of football within Queensland.
50/50 Parity: Resulting in FQ wishing to foster 1250 more female referees.
Queensland founded referees to be represented on a global scale.
Developing pathways for educators, referees and match day officials.
With all of those objectives in mind. To execute such a tall order is achievable all through the basis of a solid foundation. The “Strategic Pillars” assorted to accumulate 3,600 referees by the year 2026 include the following stages.
Pillar #1: Recruitment and Outreach The re-imagination of talent recruitment, combined with diversification and expansion all are at the forefront of the strategies initial phase.
Pillar #2: Pathways and Opportunities
Creating a community that thrives upon the continuous growth of refereeing through the establishment of a unified culture, spearheaded by the passion involved for the game and officiating.
Pillar #3: Retention and Engagement
The pressures involved within the occupation can deter potential participants or current officials for wanting to exercise their skillset within the field. The third phase within the pillars involves support directed towards the wellbeing of officials. Ensuring that they are recognized, celebrated, supported and encouraged.
Pillar #4: Training and Development
The fourth and final phase is equally as important as the previous three. The creation of cohesion amongst a community is of great importance. Looking to gain participants through revolutionary training activities in which showcase the intense art form of officiating in an engaging manner, while improving and establishing skills. There are currently over 2000 registered referees within FQ.
They are attempting to increase their refereeing basis by 425 participants, compounding each year until 2026 while striving to double their current female referee basis.
As a footnote to Australia’s presence on a global perspective within the football world, we remain a nation in that possesses immense interest in the sport, yet haven’t found their strides in translating that passion into becoming a top-level contending country upon the football pitch on the international scale.
It was Queensland’s very own Jarred Gillet who pathed the pathway in which Australian referees should look to charter. From officiating some of the A-leagues all-time greatest clashes to becoming a primary referee within the Premier League all over the span of 11 years.
It’s a feat in which FQ will strive for within this new strategy plan. All for the benefit of football within the state of Queensland, and most importantly, for Australia.
The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) have officially confirmed a partnership formulated with American sport apparel juggernaut Nike.
The agreement arrives in a timely manner for the international side, given their decision go unbranded after their Puma sponsorship had culminated in 2023.
Nike become the ninth kit manufacturer held by La Celeste Senior men’s national team throughout their history. Initially, their first ever kit sponsor was with Nike’s primary rivals Adidas with the partnership beginning in 1972 and ending in 1983.
Since their 8 year relationship with Adidas, the national side where constant in changing their kit manufacturer. With manufacturers changing hands 6 times in the span of 24 years, it was until 2003 where Puma had become primary endorsers.
The endorsement of Puma lasted from 2006 until 2023. The leaping Puma Cat logo shared a fruitful tenure with Uruguay, experiencing a fourth place finish at the 2010 South Africa world cup campaign, in which was riddled with nostalgia and controversy from La Celeste.
The mind shifts back to when a 31 year old Diego Forlan showed the footballing world on the grandest stage, his immense quality. Storming home with the Golden Ball, Goal of the Tournament and joint top scorer of the competition.
Beyond the 2010 campaign, Uruguay would go on to qualify for the next three editions beyond their best finish since 1970. They were also in collaboration when Uruguay lifted the Copa America in 2011, a mere 16 years since their last victory.
Founded in 1964, Nike is the benchmark in athletic apparel and footwear. Most of the world’s greatest athletes across multiple sporting codes are endorsed by Nike, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Tiger Woods.
Nike have been busy with their national team acquisitions, The German Football Association (DFB) where another powerhouse international outfit accumulated by the American brand, with the partnership commencing in 2027.
