Football Australia chairman unhappy with significant loss

Football Australia's $8.5 million loss has angered chairman Anter Isaac, who has demanded improvement as part of the sport's national governing body's commitment to 'cost efficiency' and 'operational effectiveness'.
The substantial loss for 2024 was confirmed at Friday afternoon's FA annual general meeting, where Isaac was unanimously re-elected as chairman.
'We are not satisfied and look towards continued improvement,' Isaac said.
'That is our obligation to grassroots football and all our football stakeholders.'
Despite the $8.5 million deficit, confirmation has come after James Johnson's sudden resignation as FA chief executive officer earlier this month – FA's revenue grew to $124 million in 2024.
'While we are happy with this, we believe that there continue to be opportunities to increase the value of our brands and commercial activities to help reinvestment into our game from national teams and especially to the grassroots,' Isaac said in his chairman's report.
'The past year has been one of strategic renewal and disciplined ambition. Though it all, our focus remains clear – to build a football ecosystem that is united, resilient and ready for the future.'
Isaac said Johnson's interim replacement, Matildas great Heather Garriock brought 'an unmatched passion for the game, deep football knowledge, executive acumen and a clear vision for the future'.
'We are confident in her ability to lead Football Australia with strength, unity and a mindset of service that reflects the values of our entire football family,' he said of Garriock,
Isaac FA's 'priorities' were clear.
They were finalising the Matildas' new coach, with Joe Montemurro's appointment expected to be confirmed next month, supporting the Socceroos' World Cup qualification campaign, delivering a successful AFC Women's Asian Cup next year, and laying the foundation for a truly national second-tier competition, the Australian Championship.

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Miami Herald

2 hours ago

• Miami Herald

Judge: Arrests could result from plan to end homelessness in downtown Atlanta before World Cup

ATLANTA - A controversial plan to remove homeless people from downtown Atlanta before the 2026 FIFA World Cup could lead to some arrests "solely to make the city look nice," according to a Fulton County judge. Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who co-chairs a justice board that seeks alternatives to incarceration in metro Atlanta, said he's concerned the city's plan to end homelessness in downtown and house hundreds of people by next summer could prompt encounters between police and unsheltered people, leading to arrests. Any increase in the local jail population shouldconcern "everyone in the criminal justice system," because it would tax resources and expose people to an unhealthy, unsafe environment,McBurney told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As Atlanta prepares for the World Cup and the international attention it will bring, the city's sizable homeless population has emerged as a flash point. Some advocates worry that officials will turn to arrests to clear the streets, with some of the city's homeless ending up in the troubled Fulton County Jail. Partners for HOME, the nonprofit that implements the city of Atlanta's homeless strategy, is leading the effort, known as "Downtown Rising." The initiative is part of a $212 million campaign called "Atlanta Rising" to end unsheltered homelessness in the city. Mayor Andre Dickens said at a news conference on summer safety on Wednesday that his administration has been working to make housing available since long before anyone knew Atlanta would be hosting World Cup matches. He added that encampments under bridges are unsafe and won't be tolerated. "We want to make sure those unsheltered individuals don't come anywhere downtown, and throughout the city of Atlanta, not just during the World Cup, but now," he said. Asked how the city will handle enforcement, Dickens said police would take people who violate city ordinancesto the pre-arrest diversion center, which offers treatment and other services to people who are homeless or have substance use or mental health issues, allowing them to avoid arrest. "If you break the law, we have measures to deal with that like any other lawbreaker," Dickens added. Not focused on arrests Partners for HOME Chief Executive Cathryn Vassell said their plan calls for housing 400 people who are sleeping outdoors in downtownby the end of 2025 and offering them the services they need - not to arrest them if they don't want what is offered. Atlanta Police Maj. Jeff Cantin also said he doesn't envision Downtown Rising resulting in arrests "unless there's something really egregious." "We are not trying to prosecute people for being homeless," said Cantin, who oversees the department's Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement team, known as HOPE. "We're trying to get them the help they need." But racial justice advocate Michael Collins objects to the involvement of entities like the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and the Metro Atlanta Chamber in the Downtown Rising strategy. "A bunch of downtown businesspeople have gotten together and decided that in order for the World Cup to be economically successful to them, they need to eradicate homelessness from the area, even if this means lots of low-income, Black and brown people end up going to the county jail - a death trap that has been deemed unconstitutional," said Collins, senior director of the organization Color of Change. In an investigative report, the U.S. Department of Justice found conditions at the Fulton County Jail "abhorrent" and "unconstitutional." The report is replete with examples of how people have been harmed by the horrific conditions, rampant violence, indifferent supervision and poor medical care. After the report was released, the DOJ and Fulton County reached a legally binding consent decree. Marcus Mister, a vice president of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, said the organization added an outreach team in 2020 and is focused on helping refer homeless people to also has an ambassador force supported by off-duty police officers. Mister said the organization's approach toward homeless people has gradually become more empathetic. "That has really required some retraining of our ambassador force," he said. However, if homeless people resist efforts to close downtown to outdoor sleeping, he said, "Then it's whatever ordinance is on the book to enforce." 'This is what I know' Officials in Fulton County in recent weeks have complained publicly that police officers in the city of Atlanta and across Fulton County are taking too many people to jail on minor charges like trespassing, instead of bringing them to the new diversion centerin downtown Atlanta. McBurney said the diversion center could connect people to housing resources but that people can only stay there for up to 23 hours. He added that any effort to relocate dozens of people - who consider their homes to be a tent on sidewalk in downtown - "can be the emotional trigger, the mental health trigger that causes them to do something that gets them locked up," like taking a swing at an officer. "If history is a guide, there would be a significant number of people who are not interested in moving," he said. Twenty-four people declined offers of permanent supportive housing and seven refused shelter during Downtown Rising's first encampment closure, which took place last month on Pryor Street under the Interstate 20 overpass in downtown Atlanta, according to Vassel of Partners for HOME. Another 49 people from the Pryor Street camp moved into housing, 27 moved into shelters, and 74 others were "referred to housing," Vassell said. Some relocated to the Cooper Street area in the nearby Mechanicsville neighborhood - where the city shut down a large encampment last year, Vassel said. Officials said no one was arrested during the Pryor Street encampment's closure. "Most people who are declining (offers of housing) have very complex challenges, whether they're severely mentally ill and can't make a good decision for themselves or aren't lucid enough," Vassell said. Chukey Carter, 42, said he was living at the Pryor Street camp for several months earlier this year. He said he ended up in Atlanta accidentally after he fell asleep on a bus on New Year's Eve and missed his stop in Columbia, South Carolina. He said he recently received an apartment with a one-year lease that doesn't require him to pay rent or utilities. But he said a lot of homeless people will refuse to leave downtown if the city tries to relocate them. They will say: "'I'm going to still stay out here. This is what I know.'" Mandy Chapman Semple, managing partner of Clutch Consulting, which is working with Partners for Home to develop the Downtown Rising plan, said it often takes several offers of housing and services to convince a homeless person to accept them because many are skeptical. For those who don't accept help, Chapman Semple said outreach workers will continue to encourage them to go to shelters. A Partners for Home map shows several "outreach" zones, including at least 10 encampments near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the city will host eight World Cupmatches, including a semifinal game on July 15, 2026. "We are not going to a zone and closing it until we know we have sufficient housing to offer to everybody in that particular geography," Vassell said. Robb Pitts, chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, said he has not been briefed on the Downtown Rising plan but believes it is possible to house 400 people. Providing homes to people sleeping near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he said, would be "the best of all worlds." "But in the absence of that, I think they will probably be able to relocate them on a temporary basis," Pitts said. "Now the question becomes: What happens after the World Cup if they come back to where they were?" --- (Staff writer Shaddi Abusaid contributed to this story.) --- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.

Yahoo

11 hours ago

• Yahoo

Matildas enter new cycle as Montemurro makes first squad call

After months of speculation, Joe Montemurro has officially stepped into the role of CommBank Matildas head coach — and his first squad selection gives a clear indication of what's to come. With four friendlies scheduled across Perth and Bunbury against Slovenia and Panama, Montemurro's 33-player squad is equal parts experimental and strategic. It looks firmly to the future but still respects the core of Australia's recent success. Advertisement Montemurro's coaching CV stands unmatched in Australian football. He's won titles at Melbourne City, Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon. Known for his tactical identity, culture-building and strong player relationships, Montemurro arrives with high expectations. His appointment brings cautious optimism — not because of his ability, but because of the scale of the task. The Matildas are not a dominant European club with a deep bench. They're a team balancing stars with the need to regenerate. In a crowded international calendar, Montemurro now has just four FIFA windows to prepare for the 2026 Asian Cup. 'This window is about setting the tone,' Montemurro said. 'We're laying the foundations for the next phase of our journey as we build relationships, create an understanding of our style of play and enhance the high-performance environment that enables our players to thrive.' He has made the most of the extended international window by casting a wide net, selecting 14 A-League Women players and 16 players with fewer than 10 caps. Some players will feature only in the Slovenia series, while others will play exclusively in the Panama fixtures. The split allows for smart player management and the chance to test new combinations. A new generation steps in Among the standout inclusions are three first-time call-ups: Grace Kuilamu (Brisbane Roar), Adriana Taranto (Western United) and Alexia Apostolakis (Melbourne City). All three have impressed at club level and represent the next wave of Australian talent. Advertisement Also returning to the squad are players many fans have wanted back. Alex Chidiac — the reigning Julie Dolan Medallist — returns after being mostly overlooked by the previous regime. Emily Gielnik is fit again. Chloe Berryhill (née Logarzo) rejoins the team after a concussion cut her last appearance short. Embed from Getty Images Jacynta Galabadaarachchi also returns for the first time since 2022. Her selection is particularly notable — she had previously pledged her international future to Argentina. This suggests a renewed commitment to the Matildas and a fresh opportunity under Montemurro. Sharn Freier is another welcome return. The winger is back from a long-term injury and is set to join Wolfsburg in the upcoming season. Advertisement 'We wanted to use this window not just to prepare for the matches,' Montemurro said, 'but to really explore the talent that's coming through. It's a rare opportunity to work with a broadened squad, give players their first or renewed taste of the environment and assess where we are as a group.' Rested, missing and unlucky Some big names are missing — but it's deliberate. Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry are all on personal leave. It's a sensible decision. Each has had an intense schedule and played a central role in recent Matildas campaigns. A break now could pay off when the Asian Cup comes around in March. Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr remain out with injury. Cortnee Vine continues her extended leave. A leg injury sidelined Tameka Yallop. Kahli Johnson, who showed promise in her debut series, misses out with a thigh strain. Advertisement Two players who can consider themselves unlucky are Izzy Gomez and Leticia McKenna. Gomez impressed against Argentina but didn't make the squad this time, with no injury reported. McKenna delivered a strong domestic season, and many expected her to earn a call-up. Embed from Getty Images Looking ahead Montemurro has been clear that this camp isn't just about winning — it's about building. With a home Asian Cup, a World Cup in Brazil and the LA Olympics ahead, the next few years are crucial. 'This camp is really an identification process,' he said. 'It's a process for the players to understand where we're heading. It's really, really important that we give every player an opportunity.' Advertisement The squad still features key leaders like Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond. They're joined by rising talents including Holly McNamara, Bryleeh Henry and Jamilla Rankin. It's a mix of experience and experimentation — exactly what this team needs. Embed from Getty Images The Matildas won't face judgment based on this window alone. But fans and critics will judge Montemurro. After a 10-month delay in replacing Tony Gustavsson, expectations are high. Whether this group delivers a trophy or not, it already shows a willingness to evolve. And that's exactly what Australian football needs right now. Related articles from Her Football Hub:

New York Times

12 hours ago

• New York Times

How Brazil won the 1958 World Cup: A sleeping coach, tactical tweaks and 17-year-old Pele

This is the fifth in a series on The Athletic looking back at the winners of each men's World Cup. The previous four articles have looked at Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934 and Italy again in 1938, before Uruguay won it for a second time in 1950. West Germany followed in 1954 — what about Brazil? It feels strange that it's taken until the sixth edition of this series to feature the most successful nation in World Cup history, Brazil, who probably should have won the 1950 tournament on home soil. Going into the World Cup in 1958, they were considered the favourites, although there were concerns about whether they would cope with the unfamiliar surroundings of Sweden. At this point, the two World Cups played in South America had been won by sides from that continent, and the three in Europe followed suit. Advertisement But Brazil were probably more prepared than any other side in the tournament, investing heavily in an extensive backroom staff at a time when other nations were content with a manager, an assistant and a physio. They toured Europe before to allow them to become accustomed to the climate. Like all great sides, they mixed good organisation with top-class individuals. This Brazil side featured players who were not simply among the most dominant individuals at the tournament, but some of the most famous individuals in 20th-century football: Mario Zagallo, Garrincha and Pele. Vicente Feola is a curious figure. He was clearly a hugely experienced manager, having taken charge of Sao Paolo on 532 occasions, more than anyone else, over six separate spells. He had been Brazil's assistant for the fateful loss in the 1950 'final'. But Feola is often considered to have lacked authority and delegated too much, and was sometimes accused of — literally — falling asleep in the dugout. Clearly, Brazil were ahead of their time in terms of their off-field expertise. Their backroom staff is generally considered to have included a team supervisor, a fitness coach, a doctor, a dentist and a psychologist. The latter came in for most scrutiny, and appears to have indulged in some tests which made the players uncomfortable, including asking them all to draw 'a picture of a man' and then reporting to Feola on which players might make good partnerships. Still, it seems likely that he, and the others, played a role in Brazil's success. Feola, meanwhile, was in charge at a time when Brazil made a significant tactical shift to a four-man defence, and he trusted in Pele when others insisted he was too young for a World Cup. There were reports that the players took charge after a couple of games and insisted on changes to the starting XI, wrote Brian Glanville in his book, The History of the World Cup, although these suggestions are denied by members of Feola's coaching staff. Feola's reputation was harmed by his second spell in charge, for Brazil's disastrous 1966 tournament. But he deserves more credit than he is generally given for the 1958 success. Brazil's popularisation of 4-2-4 was so innovative that it changed how people referred to formations. Whereas other sides had broadly shifted towards a roughly similar shape, systems had never been referred to in terms of 'numbers'. They were considered in terms of letters ('WM') or shapes (the pyramid). Advertisement But now things became more technical: four defenders, two midfielders, four attackers. Some had concerns that Brazil were light in midfield, but their players were good enough to compensate for this perceived shortcoming. 'The most outstanding feature of the World Cup was provided by the confirmation of a new concept which might easily be called the 'fourth back' style,' wrote John Camkin in his book simply entitled World Cup 1958. 'The full-backs stayed wide on the touchlines and the centre-half and one wing-half, completely defensive, constantly guarded the middle … Brazil's success may well spread the 'fourth back' style into wider use.' Brazil were notable for their use of width. In fielding Zagallo and Garrincha, they had a proper winger on either flank — even if Zagallo was a bit more workmanlike — with the use of four defenders allowing two to overlap, at this stage a relatively unfamiliar concept given defenders were accustomed to playing in a back three. Notably, there were several changes to the starting XI throughout the tournament. Initially, Feola omitted Garrincha because he did not appreciate his lack of defensive effort, and so fielded the more disciplined Joel, until the players lobbied for Garrincha's inclusion and he came into the side for Brazil's third game, a 2-0 win over the Soviet Union. That was Pele's first game of the competition, although his absence had been because of a knee injury. Within the first three minutes of that contest, Garrincha and Pele had hit the post, and Vava had opened the scoring. Brazil were a different side. Feola started the tournament with a front two of Jose Altafini and Dida, then tried Altafini and Vava, and ended up playing Vava and Pele. There was a crucial change in midfield midway through the tournament, with Zito — a defensive-minded, positionally solid anchorman — coming in for the more adventurous Dino. As with so many other Brazilian sides, using a reliable holding player allowed the attackers to shine. And for the final, right-back Djalma Santos — a rare survivor from the 1954 side — came in for his first start of the tournament, to keep Swedish left winger Lennart Skoglund quiet. Brazil popularised beautiful football — and astute tactical tinkering. He may have missed the opening two matches, and various others had excellent tournaments too, but the star was 17-year-old Pele. No one else in football history has been on this level at the age of 17 — the closest is possibly Lamine Yamal with Barcelona and Spain. Feola trusted in Pele despite the fact he was unfit for the start of the tournament. He was already being spoken about as the best footballer Brazil had produced, and he dominated proceedings from his first start against the Soviet Union. He looked decades ahead of his time: incredibly athletic, smooth when bringing the ball under control, brilliant at leaping for headers and a selfless team player. After that instant impact against the Soviets, Pele scored the only goal in the surprisingly tense 1-0 quarter-final victory over Wales with a classic piece of control and a calm finish, which he later said was the most important goal of his career. Then came a hat-trick in the 5-2 semi-final win over France, and two more in the final. This was the first of his three World Cup victories, something no other man has matched. Brazil were nervous going into the final. They had collapsed in 1950, which was considered so disastrous that they changed the colour of their shirts, from white and black to yellow. But now they faced Sweden, who wore yellow, so Brazil had to change to blue. Furthermore, stormy weather in Stockholm meant the muddy pitch would favour the hosts' more pragmatic style. And when Nils Liedholm opened the scoring within five minutes, Brazil might have panicked. Advertisement But half an hour later, they had turned the game around — and done so with two near-identical goals. Both involved Garrincha, the gloriously unpredictable right-winger who bamboozled opposition left-backs throughout the tournament, in part because of his unusually misshapen legs. Here, the victim was Sven Axbom. Twice Garrincha dribbled past him on the outside. Twice he crossed low into the six-yard box. And twice Vava was on hand to score. Brazil were 2-1 up by half-time, and in the second half they were almost completely dominant. Pele made it 3-1, then Zagallo put the game to bed with Brazil's fourth after his initial corner was not cleared. Sweden got one back, but Pele's brilliant, off-balance looped header — a little reminiscent of Lionel Messi's in the 2009 Champions League final for Barcelona against Manchester United — made it 5-2. The Times' report read that Sweden were 'bewildered by a brand of football craft beyond the understanding of many'. It remains the World Cup final with the most goals, despite decent efforts from the last two, which have both featured six. Pele's first (of two) in the final was a truly wonderful piece of skill. Collecting a cross on his chest, he not merely managed to control the ball under pressure from centre-back Sigge Parling, he also managed to beat Bengt Gustavsson, by popping the ball over his head. Gustavsson desperately tried to bring down Pele with a knee-high challenge, but Pele soldiered on and provided a neat dipping volley to score. 'I could say that I thought about it, but I'd be lying,' Pele later said. 'It was a spur-of-the-moment reaction, quick thinking. After I controlled it, I was going to hit it, but I managed to think quickly and changed. That was one of the strengths in my life, and in my football, my improvisation, to change at the last second.' But it's interesting to read reports from Brazil's semi-final win over France, which mention how often he enjoyed knocking the ball over the head of defenders. It was one of those rare goals that was brilliant, but typical of the player's style. At full time, the Brazil players paraded a flag on their lap of honour. But it was the flag of hosts Sweden, rather than their own. Having wilted under the pressure on home soil eight years beforehand, Brazil loved their month in the calm surroundings of Sweden. They stayed in a small lakeside town named Hindas, close to Gothenburg, and spent their evenings fishing and enjoying the late sunsets. Advertisement Sweden's hosting of the tournament was considered the best yet, and the host nation's decision to abandon their opposition to foreign-based professionals playing for the national side (which had cost them qualification for World Cup 1954) meant they enjoyed a surprise run to the final. Brazil's decision to parade the Swedish flag was a recognition of their efforts as hosts and defeated finalists, and produced a standing ovation from the supporters in Stockholm. 'By the respective standards of the two countries, Sweden's triumph was at least as great as Brazil's,' wrote Camkin in his aforementioned book. With the perceived injustice of West Germany's win over Hungary in 1954 still fresh in the minds, this was a popular victory. 'There was no doubt this time that the best, immeasurably the finest, team had won,' wrote Glanville in The History of the World Cup. It often feels like tournament-winning sides play their best football in the group stage against weaker opposition, before becoming tighter and more cautious in the knockout phase. But Brazil became better and better, largely because of the line-up changes. Having started with four clean sheets in four games — 3-0 v Austria, 0-0 v England (the first goalless draw in World Cup history), 2-0 v Soviet Union and 1-0 v Wales — they then thrashed France and Sweden 5-2 with scintillating attacking performances. Although the 1970 winners are often hailed as the greatest World Cup side, it's generally agreed that they lacked a solid defence. In 1958, Brazil had no obvious shortcomings. (Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Thibaud MORITZ / AFP, David Ramos, Jeroen van den Berg/Soccrates, Mattia Ozbot – Inter/Inter /Getty Images)