MELBOURNE, Jan 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Australia’s women’s football coach
Alen Stajcic was sacked Saturday just months out from the World Cup amid
concerns over “workplace” and “player welfare” issues.
The move comes despite guiding the Matildas to as high as fourth in the
FIFA world rankings in one of their most successful eras since being
appointed in 2014.
Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop said he had lost faith in
Stajcic.
“The ultimate responsibility for driving change and leading a high-
performance environment that puts the team in the best possible position to
achieve what they are capable of, rests with the head coach,” he said.
“We no longer have confidence that Alen is the right person to lead the
team and staff.”
The women’s World Cup takes place in France in June and July, while
Australia are due to play New Zealand, South Korea and Argentina on home soil
in the Tournament of Nations from February 8.
Gallop cited two recently conducted confidential FFA surveys to evaluate
the standard of the team environment and culture.
This included a “wellbeing audit” as well as a “gender equality culture
survey”.
He said the results, along with interviews with players and staff, had led
FFA to determine that the team environment was “unsatisfactory” and change
was needed.
No specific details of the problems were given.
“FFA is committed to providing the best possible environment for the
Matildas and this change is being made with that objective in mind,” he said.
“We will continue to review other aspects of the team set-up and monitor
the Matildas environment in the coming weeks and months as we build for the
FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.”