The Footballing Figures Recognised in January 26 Honours List

Avatar
Football Australia

In an announcement made on Monday, four individuals were celebrated in the January 26 Honours List for their respective services to the football industry in Australia. 

The cohort included Football Tasmania CEO, Tony Pignata, PFA Founder and former CEO, Brendan Schwab, former Football Australia CEO, Ian Holmes and former player and Matildas’ manager, Alen Stajcic. 

 

Leaders of Australia’s football landscape

Tony Pignata

Recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) is Football Tasmania CEO, Tony Pignata. 

From beginnings as a player for Box Hill Inter, to several leadership roles with clubs like Wellington Phoenix, Sydney FC and Perth Glory, Pignata has dedicated his life to the game. Since 2023, he has led Football Tasmania and helped to develop high-performance pathways and expand participation to ensure football has a long-term future in the region. 

Brendan Schwab

PFA Founder and former CEO, Brendan Schwab, was recognised with the Member of the Order of Australia (AM). 

Schwab’s contributions to football are undeniable, not only as a key figure in the creation of the PFA in 1993 and the A-League, but as an accomplished lawyer who advocated for Australian footballers on the global stage. As a Football Australia Hall of Fame Inductee and PFA Champion, Schwab has undoubtedly woven his name into the fabric of Australia’s football industry. 

Ian Holmes

Former Football Australia CEO, Ian Holmes, was another recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). 

With contributions to football in Australia spanning five decades, Holmes stands as an essential figure in the industry. His work has covered various levels of the game, including as President of New South Wales Amateur Soccer Federation, Football Australia CEO, and Director of Football New South Wales. His leadership and commitment has been pivotal to the growth of football at state and national levels. 

Alen Stajcic

Former player and football manager, Alen Stajcic, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services as a coach. 

In both the men’s and women’s game, Stajcic has forged a successful record on the international stage for the Matildas and the Philippine Women’s National team, as well as at club level for Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners, Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers. As Head Coach from 2014-2019, Stajcic helped the Matildas reach new heights on the pitch and thus pave the way for the development of the women’s game across the nation. 

 

Acknowledging dedication and commitment 

Whether in Australia or beyond, the football industry can be an unforgiving and ruthless sphere in which to work. This is why recognising the people who have made valuable contributions to the nation’s footballing landscape is so important. Through consistent hard work and commitment, they collectively helped to bring the football industry in Australia to where it is today. 

While development is constant and improvements can always be made, it is reassuring to know that the foundations were built with the help of four dedicated individuals deservedly recognised in this year’s January 26 Honours List.

 

See the full 26 January Honours List here.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Football West runs Indigenous pilot program during NAIDOC Week’s 50th anniversary

Avatar
Image Credit: Football West

Football West ran a pilot program for Indigenous children at the Sam Kerr Football Centre during NAIDOC Week’s 50th anniversary. Former Socceroo David Williams delivered the session.

This year’s national NAIDOC theme, “50 Years of Deadly,” marks five decades since the movement began. It honours the Elders, artists and communities who built it.

“Having these young indigenous kids here at the Sam Kerr Football Centre was great to see,” Williams said. “The feeling they got running around the same pitch the Socceroos and Matildas have trained on was special for them and me.”

A player turned administrator

Williams retired from professional football in November 2025 after a career-ending ACL injury. As a teenager he trained with Club Brugge and Liverpool, and coach Miron Bleiberg once described him as the “best Australian prospect since Harry Kewell.”

He went on to become the first Indigenous player to represent Melbourne City, scored in the UEFA Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt, and won the Indian Super League with ATK.

Since retiring, Williams has moved into administration at Football West. He also sits on the Indigenous Football Australia Council, which oversees the grassroots initiative John Moriarty Football.

A name with its own history

Football Australia named Williams head coach of the Charles Perkins XI last year, the governing body’s national Indigenous youth team. Football Australia renamed the side in 2025 in honour of Dr Charles Perkins AO, following endorsement from the Perkins family and the National Indigenous Advisory Group.

Perkins, an Arrernte and Kalkadoon man, played for Adelaide Croatia and Pan Hellenic in the 1950s. He went on to become the first Aboriginal Australian to graduate from university and a leader of the 1965 Freedom Rides.

Football Australia has described the renamed team as reflecting a commitment to embedding cultural identity and leadership within its high-performance pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

What happens next

“After living out my dream as a professional player, to now being able to offer experiences like this and hopefully inspire the next generation of young Indigenous footballers is very rewarding,” Williams said. “There is also a lot of talent that we can tap into.”

He said running the session during NAIDOC Week let Football West mark two things at once. “Creating a fun session for these kids during NAIDOC Week meant we could celebrate culture and sport in one go,” he said.

Williams wants the session to become a regular fixture rather than a single event. “Going forward, I would love to put on more of these programs throughout the year and get more indigenous youngsters playing football,” he said.

Football West has not yet confirmed funding or a schedule for further sessions.

World Cup ‘Not For Sale’: Confederations unite against Infantino’s private investment plan

Avatar
Image Credits: Associated Press

The global backlash to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a minority stake in a new commercial entity overseeing the FIFA World Cup and other major global competitions has continued to intensify. Two of the most powerful confederations have now taken a stand against Infantino’s plan.

UEFA and CONCACAF, in separate statements released today, spoke on behalf of Europe and North America, totalling 96 FIFA member associations. They rejected the proposal, citing serious concerns over governance, transparency and the long-term future of the world’s biggest sporting events.

UEFA’s message left little room for interpretation and has now taken action, boycotting FIFA tournaments.

“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,” Europe’s governing body said in its statement.

“The World Cup is not for sale.

UEFA has decided European nations will not participate in any FIFA tournaments if the proposal goes ahead. This includes next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2030 World Cup, of which Spain and Portugal are amongst the hosts.

CONCACAF echoed many of those concerns following meetings involving its member associations. They highlighted what it described as a lack of due process surrounding the proposal.

The confederation questioned the compressed decision-making timeline and the absence of review by FIFA’s governance bodies. The governing body of North America didn’t see the need to seek private equity investment following what has been described as the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history.

Rather than endorsing the proposal, Concacaf instructed its FIFA Council members to engage with FIFA on alternative solutions. These included using FIFA’s existing financial reserves to increase investment in football development across the region.

Growing resistance

Infantino’s proposal would establish a new commercial company, reported to be valued at around AUD $29 billion (USD $20 billion). FIFA seeks to sell up to a 20% stake to outside investors while retaining sporting control. FIFA argues the move would unlock billions in additional development funding for its member associations.

However, critics argue the process has moved forward with insufficient consultation and risks fundamentally changing the priorities of world football.

FIFA and Infantino only need a majority of 106 member states for this proposal to pass. However, with UEFA refusing to play in tournaments and considering other confederations that may choose similar action, the proposal hangs in the balance.

The opposition is no longer confined to Europe and North America. Both Asia’s AFC and South America’s CONMEBOL have signalled their displeasure, having not been consulted on the proposal.

A defining moment for FIFA

With several of football’s most influential confederations now publicly opposing the proposal, Infantino faces one of the biggest governance challenges of his presidency.

While FIFA maintains that sporting decisions would remain under its control, UEFA and CONCACAF have made it clear that football’s most iconic competition should remain a public sporting asset rather than an investment vehicle.

As negotiations continue, it is yet to be seen who else may take a stand against Infantino, but without any European nations partaking in global tournaments, FIFA’s grand plan has taken a major blow.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend