Time For The FA To Get It Right!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 02/02/2005

BRIAN Barwick marked his first day as chief executive of the Football Association with calls for an end to diving, the bickering between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger and the power struggles between the game's stakeholders, says the Guardian.

Now I can think of a number of issues that the FA could set as a priority but wrist smacking a couple of Premiership managers who have a regular bout of handbags is not one of them.

One might be forgiven for thinking that the FA might have shown a little concern for the smaller clubs that will be affected more seriously than the Premiership clubs with FIFA refusing to change the transfer window.

If the FA are serious about getting their house in order and being, once again, the leading representatives of football in England, they would be doing some lobbying amongst their international colleagues to find a more equitable arrangement.

Surely the problem of diving is the responsibility of referees supported by the FA's disciplinary committees?

As for Mr Wenger and Mr Ferguson, that responsibility lies with their respective clubs.

The FA has greater problems facing football than 'simulation' and 'spit spats' amongst managers.

The financial situation of the majority of clubs outside the Premier League, which could be easily resolved by a fairer distribution of TV fees and other income sources of the FA.

But maybe that is a too hot potato for the FA to handle.

The FA should recognise that they represent all sections of football in the nation. Their fixation with the Premier League is not conducive to their charter and will eventually prove to be their undoing.

Already there is talk of a new AFA to represent the 'amateur' and grass roots side of football, which at the moment, seems to be a more realistic solution to their problems.

Brian Barwick needs to be seen as a leader - not a follower of his predecessors. He has a great opportunity to re-establish the FA as the highly respected, successful representative of the beautiful game it once was.

He should get his priorities right from the start!

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