Latest news with #A-Leagues
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Adam Kersey Named Isuzu UTE A-League Men Referee Of The Year
29 May, 2025: After a standout season, Adam Kersey has been named 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League Men Referee of the Year - the first time he has collected the award in his career. Adam began his refereeing journey in Brisbane in 2003, before making his A-League Men's debut in Round 25 of the 2011/12 season, officiating the match between Adelaide United FC and Melbourne Heart FC. Since then, he has earned his FIFA badge (2022) and officiated 121 Isuzu UTE A-League Men's matches. The Isuzu UTE A-League Men Referee of the Year is awarded to the referee who is judged as the best referee for the Isuzu UTE A-League Men regular season. A-Leagues Executive Chair, Stephen Conroy said: 'Adam has set the standard for referees in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men this season and is no doubt inspiring a number of junior referees around Australia and New Zealand to follow in his footsteps. 'We congratulate Adam on a standout season of refereeing and his first Referee of the Year award, and we look forward to having him officiate the Isuzu UTE A-League Men Grand Final this weekend.' Football Australia Head of Referees, Jon Moss said: 'Adam has had an exceptional season where he worked hard over his 18 fixtures. Adam has demonstrated exceptional consistency, professionalism, and dedication across every match this season, setting the standard for officiating at all levels. 'His commitment and growth reflect the very best of our refereeing community, and we congratulate him on this well-earned recognition,' Moss concluded. Adam will be presented with his award at the conclusion of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final between Melbourne City FC and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Saturday, 31 May with kick off set for 7:40pm AEST. For Australian viewers, the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final will be telecast live on Network 10, and streamed exclusively on 10 Play and Paramount+. For New Zealand viewers, the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final will be shown live on Sky Sport, and streamed on Sky Sport Now. To find out more about the A-Leagues, visit Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final: Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory, 7.40pm AEST on Saturday 31 May at AAMI Park About A-Leagues: The A-Leagues represent the pinnacle of professional football in Australia and New Zealand, comprising Isuzu UTE A-League Men's and Ninja A-League Women competitions. The 2024/25 season will see 13 clubs compete in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and 12 in the Ninja A-League Women. The A-Leagues, operated by Australian Professional Leagues (APL), is delivering against its bold ambition to develop top-tier professional football talent in Australia and New Zealand, drive engagement across the leagues and to build on football's undisputed position as the country's most popular participation sport.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Football Australia ‘not satisfied' with $8.5m loss amid concern over A-League debt
Football Australia's chair has admitted he is unhappy with his organisation's financial performance as the local game faces a raft of challenges including the search for a new chief executive and the A-Leagues' struggles with debt. FA recorded an $8.5m loss in 2024 according to the financial accounts presented at Friday's annual general meeting in Sydney, which included writing off more than $4m in bad debt, some from A-Leagues operator APL. Related: A-Leagues seek to stop 'arms race' with strict $3m salary cap FA chair, Anter Isaac, said he was 'not satisfied' with the loss, which represents almost 7% of revenue, in a year the organisation brought in a record $124m. He revealed FA has invested in 'enhanced financial strategy, management and governance systems' to address the financial challenges. He described 2024 as 'a year of strategic investment and structural reset to lay a stronger foundation for our game' but he promised that despite the financial situation meant that there would be no cuts to football programs. 'In a nutshell, it won't [affect them]. We're still going to continue serving and supporting all of our national teams and the football community and so forth,' the former president of Football New South Wales said. Former Matildas player, Heather Garriock, is now working as interim chief executive after the resignation of James Johnson earlier this month. Taking the position required her to resign as director. Her departure, alongside Jackie Lee-Joe, has left the FA with just two women on its six-person board, below its target of 40%. 'We take inclusivity and diversity very seriously,' Isaac said. 'So I expect that within the next four to six weeks, and don't hold me to that, but definitely no more than eight weeks, we'll get that addressed.' Isaac, a sports consultant by trade who was appointed chair in 2023, said the search for a new chief executive has begun, and the board was talking with two recruitment firms as well as football stakeholders. 'We want, moving forward, that anyone that enters or comes into this business understands that this company is an extension of our stakeholders, so this is very different from what's happened in the past,' he said. Related: 'We have to reset': Golden generation face rejuvenation amid next Matildas coach's balancing act | Joey Lynch Johnson, the former chief executive, was appointed in 2019 having played football at a high level, and worked at Fifa, the AFC and City Football Group. Earlier on Friday he was appointed chief executive of Canadian Soccer Business, the entity that handles the commercial rights of Canadian national teams and professional clubs, ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America. Garriock, also a former boss of Australian Taekwondo CEO and who has been on the board since 2021, declined to say whether she was seeking to lead the FA permanently. 'I've been given a mandate from the board in this interim period, and I'm fully focused on the interim period, and I haven't thought beyond that,' she said. The cash-strapped APL still owes FA millions of dollars and continues to accrue liabilities for ongoing expenses such as referees. Although Isaac admitted some of his organisation's $4.1m in write-offs involved debt from the APL, he said FA had no plans to relieve APL of their outstanding obligations. 'We are working hand in hand with them not only on strategic initiatives that will help prosper the game at the professional level and grassroots, but also dealing with some historical matters that we're very close to resolving,' Isaac said. Garriock also confirmed the next Matildas coach will be announced in June, allowing eight months of preparations before next year's Women's Asian Cup in Australia.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
A-Leagues Increase Capacity At Go Media Stadium For 2025 Finals Series
A-Leagues to increase Go Media Stadium capacity by 2,700+. Auckland FC to host leg two of their Semi Final on Saturday 24 May. Additional 800 seats to be added if Auckland progress to debut Grand Final. Friday 9 May: In partnership with Go Media Stadium and Auckland FC, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has increased the capacity of Go Media Stadium for the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Finals Series. Following strong early demand for finals tickets, and a fantastic record of home support during the regular season, the APL has added 2,700 seats to the north end of Go Media Stadium, giving more Auckland FC and travelling fans the opportunity to watch their team in leg two of the Semi Final showdown on Saturday 24 May. A further 800 seats will be added should Auckland qualify for the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final and earn the right to host the showpiece event on Saturday 31 May. With the additional capacity, the Black Knights continue a strong record of home support at Go Media Stadium as the club continues to build an incredible connection with the local football community. Across the regular season, the Isuzu UTE A-League Men has seen a 9% growth in overall attendance year-on-year, and this weekend is set to surpass 1.5m total fans through the gates for the first time since 2018/19. A-Leagues Executive Chair, Hon. Stephen Conroy said: 'The fans in Auckland, and across the league, have been fantastic this season. As it stands, we're on track to record the highest attended season since 2016/17. 'As we enter an exciting month of A-Leagues action, it's great to be able to increase the overall capacity at Go Media Stadium for the 2025 Finals Series to give more fans the chance to see their team in action. 'Credit to all involved at Auckland FC for the momentum they've built, and a huge shout out to their growing fan base, for the passion and connection they've shown to the club in their first season.' The 2025 Finals Series kicks off this weekend with two cut-throat Elimination Finals, with the two winners progressing to the Semi Finals to face either Auckland FC or Melbourne City who earned the week off finishing as the top two teams in the regular season. As Premiers, Auckland FC will play the lowest placed Elimination Final winner in a two-legged Semi Final, with the first leg away, before the return leg at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 24 May. The highest placed team from the regular season that wins through from the Semi Finals, will earn the right to host the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Grand Final on Saturday 31 May. Tickets for Auckland's second leg at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 24 May are currently on sale for Auckland FC members via while tickets for away club fans go on sale at 10am AEST / 12pm NZT on Monday 12 May. General public tickets will go on sale at 1pm AEST / 3pm NZT on Tuesday 13 May. For Australian viewers, the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Finals Series matches will be shown live across a mix of Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+. For New Zealand viewers, every match of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025 Finals Series, including Auckland FC, is available live on Sky Sport and streamed on Sky Sport Now. Notes: Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2025 Finals Series: Week 2: Semi Finals (Leg 1), Friday 16 May - Saturday 17 May Lowest Placed Elimination Final Winner vs Auckland FC Highest Placed Elimination Final Winner vs Melbourne City Week 3: Semi Finals (Leg 2), Saturday 24 May Auckland FC vs Lowest Placed Elimination Final Winner, 4:00pm AEST / 6:00pm NZT on Saturday 24 May at Go Media Stadium. Melbourne City vs Highest Placed Elimination Final Winner, 7:35pm AEST on Saturday 24 May at AAMI Park. Week 4: Grand Final, Saturday 31 May Highest ranked Semi Final Winner vs Lowest ranked Semi Final Winner, Saturday 31 May. About A-Leagues: The A-Leagues represent the pinnacle of professional football in Australia and New Zealand, comprising Isuzu UTE A-League Men's and Ninja A-League Women competitions. The 2024/25 season will see 13 clubs compete in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and 12 in the Ninja A-League Women. The A-Leagues, operated by Australian Professional Leagues (APL), is delivering against its bold ambition to develop top-tier professional football talent in Australia and New Zealand, drive engagement across the leagues and to build on football's undisputed position as the country's most popular participation sport.
Sydney Morning Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
James Johnson steps down as Football Australia boss
James Johnson has resigned as chief executive officer of Football Australia, bringing to a close a transformative five-and-a-half-year reign at the helm of the national body. Johnson has informed FA's board of his decision to leave the job and will stay on for a period of time to support the transition to a new CEO. Johnson, a former player, high-ranking executive with the City Football Group and head of professional football at FIFA, was appointed in January 2020 as the successor to long-time chief executive David Gallop. His tenure began during a time of significant turbulence for the Australian game. Just weeks after he took the job, the COVID-19 crisis forced Johnson to stand down 70 per cent of the federation's staff, and then negotiate the end of Fox Sports' rights agreement to broadcast the A-Leagues and the national teams, later signing bumper deals with Network 10 and Paramount. He then oversaw the formal separation of the A-Leagues, a process which was already in train before his appointment, handing over commercial and operational control of the men's and women's professional competitions to the newly formed Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in 2021. Relations between FA and the APL have been strained in recent years, with the latter organisation and its clubs suffering from significant financial turmoil. Australia's senior national teams have both hit new heights during Johnson's time as CEO, both on and off the field. The Socceroos produced a record finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under Graham Arnold, having negotiated a tense play-off victory over Peru to qualify for the tournament, while the Matildas were semi-finalists at the home 2023 Women's World Cup, the hosting rights for which were secured partly thanks to Johnson's extensive global contacts, particularly at FIFA and within the Asian Football Confederation, where he also worked. Those relationships have also helped net the rights to host the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. Johnson appointed two national team coaches: Tony Popovic, who has steered the Socceroos to the brink of qualification for the next World Cup after Arnold's exit last year, and Tony Gustavsson, who quit after the Matildas' failed Paris Olympics campaign. FA is believed to have reached an agreement with Joe Montemurro to replace Gustavsson as the new permanent coach of the Matildas, with reports from Europe this week claiming he was poised to part ways with French club Olympique Lyonnais at the end of this season. Other reforms Johnson has pursued at FA include overhauls of domestic transfer system rules, designed to encourage clubs to prioritise youth development and better leverage the global transfer market, and the establishment of a national second-tier competition, the Australian Championship, which is due to launch later this year. FA has also hit record financial revenues during Johnson's reign, underpinned by a series of significant new corporate partnerships with the likes of the Commonwealth Bank, Subway and Cadbury.
The Age
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
James Johnson steps down as Football Australia boss
James Johnson has resigned as chief executive officer of Football Australia, bringing to a close a transformative five-and-a-half-year reign at the helm of the national body. Johnson has informed FA's board of his decision to leave the job and will stay on for a period of time to support the transition to a new CEO. Johnson, a former player, high-ranking executive with the City Football Group and head of professional football at FIFA, was appointed in January 2020 as the successor to long-time chief executive David Gallop. His tenure began during a time of significant turbulence for the Australian game. Just weeks after he took the job, the COVID-19 crisis forced Johnson to stand down 70 per cent of the federation's staff, and then negotiate the end of Fox Sports' rights agreement to broadcast the A-Leagues and the national teams, later signing bumper deals with Network 10 and Paramount. He then oversaw the formal separation of the A-Leagues, a process which was already in train before his appointment, handing over commercial and operational control of the men's and women's professional competitions to the newly formed Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in 2021. Relations between FA and the APL have been strained in recent years, with the latter organisation and its clubs suffering from significant financial turmoil. Australia's senior national teams have both hit new heights during Johnson's time as CEO, both on and off the field. The Socceroos produced a record finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under Graham Arnold, having negotiated a tense play-off victory over Peru to qualify for the tournament, while the Matildas were semi-finalists at the home 2023 Women's World Cup, the hosting rights for which were secured partly thanks to Johnson's extensive global contacts, particularly at FIFA and within the Asian Football Confederation, where he also worked. Those relationships have also helped net the rights to host the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. Johnson appointed two national team coaches: Tony Popovic, who has steered the Socceroos to the brink of qualification for the next World Cup after Arnold's exit last year, and Tony Gustavsson, who quit after the Matildas' failed Paris Olympics campaign. FA is believed to have reached an agreement with Joe Montemurro to replace Gustavsson as the new permanent coach of the Matildas, with reports from Europe this week claiming he was poised to part ways with French club Olympique Lyonnais at the end of this season. Other reforms Johnson has pursued at FA include overhauls of domestic transfer system rules, designed to encourage clubs to prioritise youth development and better leverage the global transfer market, and the establishment of a national second-tier competition, the Australian Championship, which is due to launch later this year. FA has also hit record financial revenues during Johnson's reign, underpinned by a series of significant new corporate partnerships with the likes of the Commonwealth Bank, Subway and Cadbury.
