The Footballing Figures Recognised in January 26 Honours List

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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.

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Football Victoria marks World Autism Understanding Month with Expanded Inclusion Program

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Image Credit: Football Victoria

Football Victoria has marked World Autism Understanding Month with a series of practical inclusion initiatives delivered in partnership with Aspect, reinforcing the governing body’s commitment to making football accessible for autistic participants across all levels of the game.

The partnership, now in its second year, has moved beyond awareness into structural change. Environmental assessments have been completed across multiple programs and match days, including at Collingwood City FC and the All-Abilities League match day at Northcote City FC. Each assessment identifies accessibility barriers and provides concrete inclusion principles integrated into the physical and operational realities of football environments.

Ahead of the 2025 Football For All Gala Day, Aspect conducted an environmental assessment of The Home of the Matildas, informing the development of a Visual Story designed to help participants with autism understand the venue and event before arriving. The same approach has been applied to FV’s GO Camps program, giving participants and families the information they need to engage with confidence.

Aspect has also delivered multiple education sessions for coaches throughout the partnership, with a dedicated session for referees held on April 20, the first of its kind, extending autism understanding across match officials and into all parts of the game day experience.

Football Victoria has also joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative, with training and education to be rolled out across the organisation in the coming months, strengthening its capacity to recognise and support participants with non-visible disabilities.

The initiatives reflect a recognition that access to sport is not guaranteed by an open registration form. For many participants with autism and their families, the barriers are environmental, informational and social; and removing them requires sustained investment in education, assessment and design.

UEFA reaffirm partnership with Oceania Football Confederation

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Image credit: UEFA.com

Last week, UEFA signed a Memoriam of Understanding (MoU) with Oceania’s football governing body to continue its commitment  to football in Oceania.

 

United through football

While being two governing bodies separated by distance, the MoU stands as a symbol of unity and collaboration which supports mutual growth.

The agreement will run until 2031, displaying both parties’ commitment to long-term development through football.

“Europe and Oceania are connected by a shared belief in the importance of investing in people as the foundation of football’s future,” said UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, via press release.

“This Memorandum of Understanding brings together UEFA’s experience in elite development and education with OFC’s clear focus on nurturing young talent and strengthening football leadership.”

Furthermore, OFC President, Lambert Maltock, also expressed his confidence in the agreement to support players and pathways alike.

“Our partnership with UEFA reflects a shared commitment to developing the game at every level – from grassroots to elite,” said Maltock.

“By investing in our people and working collaboratively, we are building a more connected, capable and globally competitive football ecosystem for Oceania.”

 

What the agreement promises

Continuing UEFA’s recent MoUs with CAF (Africa), Concacaf (North, Central America and the Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America), the partnership will seek to address several key aspects. These include:

  • Youth football opportunities – supporting OFC’s annual boy’s and girl’s U15 tournaments.
  • Knowledge exchange – reciprocal observer programmes at club finals and national team tournaments.
  • Football development – delivered through the UEFA Together programme.
  • Coach education – sharing of technical expertise and learning activities.
  • Refereeing – opportunities to referee youth tournaments, courses and technical programmes.

Moreover, the agreement outlines a commitment to ensuring football remains a tolerant and inclusive sport, capable of uniting communities and empowering individuals.

Therefore, the MoU between UEFA and the OFC is symbolic of aligned values, principles and vision for the future of football in both regions.

 

Final thoughts

An alliance of this nature – especially in these uncertain times for global cooperation – is vital.

Football has the power to unite like nothing else.

So governing bodies must recognise the value of connecting across cultures, countries and continents, not only for what it can do for football, but how it can promote fundamental values within the sport as a whole.

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