Will FA reform itself?

THE government will expend huge amounts ofpublic resources in invigorating Hong Kongsoccer as a consultancy recommends. Theconsultancy report identifies the problems with thesport in the SAR and puts forward visions, concreteobjectives and practicable ways to achieve them. Onecan now perhaps picture in one's mind's eye a sceneof Hong Kong soccer regaining its glory. But don't behappy so soon. Whether that will happen depends onwhether the Hong Kong Football Association (FA), thegoverning body of association football in the SAR, willthoroughly reform itself and seize the opportunity toallow the sport to thrive again here. Will its ashes, asthe phoenix, bring forth a bird that would give HongKong soccer a new lease of life? Judging from what ithas achieved, one can hardly be optimistic.

Many would shake their heads at the mention ofthe FA. What is most often heard about it is thatnothing can be done to change it because it is an intricate network of relationships. Soccer once thrivedin Hong Kong. But it has declined. Now Hong Kong'sFIFA (Federation Internationale de FootballAssociation) ranking is 142nd, very low indeed. This isblamed mainly on the FA's poor leadership. The FA'sorganisation is such that it has long functioned as if itwere a handful of people's private club. Never has ittried fostering the sport's development as it should.The FA is structurally subordinate to FIFA. Thisrelationship must remain unchanged. If the FA is nolonger a FIFA member, things will be even moreunfavourable to association football in Hong Kong.However, the FA's organisation is quite out of keepingwith the contemporary soccer world, as is itsmanagement. FA leaders are in a rut. The FA,supposed to work for the public, is controlled by vestedinterests. That has long given rise to much discussionamong insiders and outsiders.

The consultancy report says politely that the FA has organisational weaknesses. Only if the FAthoroughly reforms itself will there be hope ofreinvigorating Hong Kong soccer.

Hong Kong soccer is the FA's monopoly. Will theFA seize the opportunity? Even insiders would notentertain high hopes. For example, the consultancyrecommends that the FA amend its constitution, whichdetermines who should sit on its governing body andthus bears on small circles' vital interests. Chairman ofthe Football Management Committee of South ChinaAthletic Association Steven Lo, who has been keen oninvesting in soccer, said in an interview that the FA'sreform would be beset with difficulties. The FA'sconstitution may not be amended without theendorsement of at least 75% of its members. It is noteasy to have it amended because the conservativesare very influential.

FA leaders, Hong Kong soccer is now at its lastgasp, thanks to you. Now the government wants soccer to thrive. An opportunity has presented itself. Ifyou do love soccer, please step down so that peoplewho are really enthusiastic about the sport can usenew thinking to develop it in Hong Kong. This may bethe last chance of invigorating Hong Kong soccer.Please give it a chance!

FIFA's rules prevent the government from havinganything to do with the FA's organisation or workings.However, the FA receives subventions from thegovernment, which will devote even more resources tofostering the sport as the consultancy recommends.Therefore, the government has a duty to supervise theFA more closely to ensure that public money is wellspent. In our view, the government should make theFA a public body so that its officials will be publicofficers subject to the ICAC's statutory supervision.