@article{e647844e70874f60b456ec21f3d3776a,
title = "Gender equality achieved through crisis: Football Federation of Australia (now FA)",
abstract = "This paper examines the governance reform process undertaken to achieve gender equality in Australian football (soccer). As interdisciplinary, professional practice research, this case study analyses the mechanics of influencing board composition, related policy and legal controls. It was not until the international federation for football (FIFA) threatened to withdraw its recognition of its member federation, Football Federation of Australia (now Football Australia), that gender equality measures were adopted. This governance crisis threat led to the Congress Review Working Group being established. The Working Group recommendations led to significant structural change including mandated gender equality measures. It remains to be seen if constitutional amendments, including the 40:40:20 strategy (40% women, 40% men and 20% of any gender), can translate into meaningful and lasting transformation. It is intended that this case study will be a roadmap for other sports to follow.",
keywords = "FIFA, football, Football Australia, gender equality, Governance",
author = "Catherine Ordway",
note = "Funding Information: Australia is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women [CEDAW] (UN , Australian Human Rights Commission ). Goal 5 of the United Nations [UN] 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals [SGDs] is gender equality and empowerment for women and girls (UN , UNODC ). The UN recognises the potential for sport to socially empower women and girls (UN ). The Australian Sports Commission is the national funding body reporting to the Commonwealth Minister for Sport. One of the mechanisms used by the Australian Sports Commission, both to achieve good governance, and in implementing the CEDAW and the SGDs, was to directly tie governance requirements to funding for the top seven funded sports through the Mandatory Sports Governance Principles (ASC AIS , ASC ). The Principles included a forty per-cent gender inclusion {\textquoteleft}target{\textquoteright} for the National Sports Organisations (Principle 2.6). By linking gender equality, good governance, integrity and elite performance, the Australian Sports Commission created the expectation that this target, together with the other Principles, would lead to both more medals and better integrity outcomes (Ordway and Opie , p. 48). This target has also been included in other women in sport leadership programs around the world (eg: Women in Sport [UK] , Victorian State Government , IOC ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.",
year = "2023",
month = mar,
day = "9",
doi = "10.1080/19406940.2023.2188241",
language = "English",
volume = "15",
pages = "289--307",
journal = "International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics",
issn = "1940-6940",
publisher = "Taylor & Francis",
number = "2",
}
