Governing Bodies
AUSTRALIA WANT U24 FOOTBALLERS AT TOKYO OLYMPICS IN 2021
BY DANIEL ETCHELLS
Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive James Johnson says the national governing body would like to open up discussion with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to consider adjusting the Olympic men’s football tournament so that it becomes an under-24 tournament, rather than an under-23 tournament, for the re-scheduled Tokyo 2020 Games.
It comes in the wake of confirmation earlier this week that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and host nation Japan will postpone Tokyo 2020 until next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams participating in the Olympic men’s football tournament are restricted to under-23 players, with a maximum of three overage players allowed.
As reported by The Indian Express, six players who were involved in Australia’s successful qualifying campaign for Tokyo 2020 would be out of contention for the Games if the tournament age limit is not increased.
Graham Arnold’s side secured a Tokyo 2020 berth after beating Uzbekistan in the third-place playoff at the AFC Under-23 Championship, which took place in Thailand in January.
The FFA is encouraging the men’s football tournament organisers to consider ensuring that all players from each nation that helped their countries qualify have equal opportunity to earn selection for the competition in 2021.
“Men’s football at the Olympics is an under-23 tournament but we would like to open up discussion with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to consider adjusting the men’s football tournament so that it becomes an under-24 tournament for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Johnson said.
“This would ensure the players who helped their nation qualify for the Games this year but might otherwise be ineligible for the tournament next year because of age restrictions, have an opportunity to fulfill their dreams of representing their country and becoming Olympians.”
As reported by The Indian Express, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) chief executive Matt Carroll said it was an issue that the IOC and FIFA “will have to address”.
“This hopefully is a once in history event, a postponement of the Games,” he said.
“I think with good working relationships, together we can get over all those technical details and ensure that people who have qualified remain qualified.”
The FFA has also reaffirmed its commitment to work with the AOC to send teams, including the women’s national side, to next year’s Olympics.
“Our football community are rightly proud of the efforts and achievements of the Matildas and the under-23 men’s national football team to qualify for Tokyo,” Johnson added.
“We must however ensure the health and well-being of the athletes, officials, volunteers, and fans is prioritised.
“We are glad that the IOC, AOC and all parties involved have reached this decision.
“When the dates of the potentially rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are known, FFA will work with its national teams unit and the AOC to plan the best possible preparations for both sides.”
The South African Football Association (SAFA), meanwhile, has backed the decision to postpone Tokyo 2020.
“This is the time for decisive action and putting the health of athletes first,” SAFA President Danny Jordaan was reported as saying by the African News Agency.
“While we state our clear position on the matter, we do feel for the players who worked hard over three years to qualify for the Olympics, South Africa’s second successive qualification after Rio 2016.”
He added: “We will keep in touch with FIFA and hope in the case of the Euro finals which has been moved to 2021 and Copa América also moved to 2021, that IOC and FIFA will also consider these options where players can participate in a safe and non-threatening medical environment.”
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FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer.
Infantino confirmed he would run for the 2027–2031 term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup.
The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Infantino said he was “honoured and humbled” to have the chance to run for a fourth term.
The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.
Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December.
Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year-old if he decided to seek another term.
-Reuters
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The supporters of Vancouver Whitecaps, a professional football (soccer) club in Canada, have staged a protest outside the FIFA Congress on Thursday, voicing fears that the Major League Soccer club could be relocated as uncertainty deepens over its ownership and long-term future.
The club is one of Canada’s most historic football institutions and has long been a central part of Vancouver’s sporting identity.
Around 100 fans gathered as delegates arrived for the annual FIFA meeting in Vancouver, chanting, singing and waving club flags in a show of solidarity. The demonstration comes just days after Vancouver Whitecaps FC revealed difficulties in securing a buyer willing to keep the club in the city.
The Whitecaps disclosed earlier this week that “stadium economics, venue access and revenue limitations” have complicated efforts to sell the club, despite a 16-month search for new ownership.
Season ticket holder Derek Hawksworth said supporters felt compelled to act amid growing fears of relocation.
“I wanted to come down given the threat of the team possibly moving,” he said. “It’s a rich history with the Whitecaps in North America… we want Vancouver to stay and not relocate. The history is here, and we want to continue with that history moving forward.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps are a professional football (soccer) club based in Vancouver, Canada. They currently compete in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-tier league in the United States and Canada.
Concerns were heightened by reports that cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix are leading contenders should the club relocate.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has urged intervention, calling on the provincial government — which owns BC Place — to negotiate a “bridge deal” that would allow the team to remain while plans for a new stadium are explored. The club’s current lease at BC Place expires at the end of the year.
Despite the off-field uncertainty, the Whitecaps have been one of the standout teams this MLS season. They currently sit second in the Western Conference with 24 points from nine matches, just three points behind the San Jose Earthquakes.
For supporters, however, performances on the pitch offer little comfort as the future of their club hangs in the balance — a situation they hope global football leaders gathering in Vancouver will not ignore.
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