An independent review has dispelled the notion there was a ‘lesbian mafia’ pulling the strings behind the controversial axing of Matildas coach, Alen Stajcic.
Football Federation Australia accepted the findings of the three-person panel, which was brought together in August to “ensure all national teams are operating to the highest of standards”.
Chaired by Diane Smith-Gander, and featuring Rod McGeoch and Liz Ellis, the panel found that Stajcic’s sacking in January was not driven by bias or agenda from within the Matildas camp.
“The panel was unable to uncover any evidence supporting the existence of any formal ‘lesbian mafia’ or that the decision to terminate the Matildas head coach contract was driven by personal bias against Mr Stajcic or in pursuit of other agendas,” the panel said in a 10-page document released on Thursday.
“Traditional media articles and social media ventilated the notion extensively and the panel has not been able to find evidence that the FFA took any proportionate action to address the issue nor protect the individuals who were the target of this speculation.”
Following an internal review into the culture of the national women’s football team, Stajcic was sacked five months out from the Fifa Women’s World Cup despite steering the Matildas through qualification. David Gallop, the outgoing FFA chief executive, said at the time the decision came after the situation had recently “deteriorated”.
In February, Stajcic said he was never told why he was sacked and that his “career is in tatters and my reputation has been ruined”. He subsequently took the reins at Central Coast, signing a three-year deal as head coach of the A-League club.
In May, FFA board member Heather Reid apologised to Stajcic for the “pain and suffering” caused to him by her comments at the time of his dismissal. Reid admitted sending personal communications to a number of people, including journalists, in which she implied misconduct on the part of Stajcic was behind his axing. She said she regretted making those statements and withdrew them “entirely and unconditionally”.
The independent review, which used the Stajcic affair as a case study, made a raft of recommendations to provide strategic management direction to FFA, centrally around athlete welfare and development.
“The panel believes the FFA has a unique opportunity to gain a competitive edge in international football by pivoting from a coach-centric to an athlete-centric approach in the management of its national teams,” the report continued.
“Australia cannot expect to compete with football superpowers on funding, participant numbers and proximity to international competition. This means that football in Australia must be innovative in order to continue to enjoy success on the world stage. Opportunity for that innovation exists in the athlete welfare and development area.
“The voice of the athlete must be central to any high-performance program. A sport that can sustain a rich dialogue with their elite and sub-elite athletes will be the better for it.
“Stakeholders are clamouring for attention and, in endeavouring to gain control of the key decisions that guide the game, have relegated the athletes to the role of bit players. This is a dangerous path for football in Australia and one which must be arrested as soon as possible.”
