22 Jan “A PR disaster”: FFA pair slammed over Stajcic sacking

SBS Chief Football host Lucy Zelic has demanded answers from Football Federation Australia following the shock sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

Stajcic’s contract was terminated by the governing body after an internal review into the workplace culture of the national team, just months out from this year’s Women’s World Cup in France.

Zelic had FFA CEO David Gallop and National Head of Performance Luke Casserly in her sights, calling for the pair to provide greater clarity around the murky situation surrounding the 45-year-old's dismissal.

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“The CEO David Gallop and the Head of National Team Performance, Luke Casserly, really have to answer to this, they really do,” Zelic told SEN Afternoons.

“It’s been a very harrowing time, but ultimately, Luke Casserly needs to answer to this.

“How is it that Luke Casserly, that is spending time with the playing group, that’s travelling on away camps and at tournaments with David Gallop, who’s doing much of that too, and has a close relationship with Luke Casserly and is expecting to get the truth from him on all of these maters – how are they not aware of it?

"How are they not aware of what’s going on?"

Zelic says the Australian public have a right to know the full story behind the FFA’s decision to part ways with Stajcic.

“I’ve been very publicly honest and one of Football Federation Australia’s biggest detractors in years gone by because I think they could have dealt with things better on numerous occasions,” she added.

“Do I think that applies here? 100 percent. I think this has been a PR disaster for them and the way they have dealt with it and their communication with the footballing and Australian public in general.

“Let’s be clear, this Australian Matildas national team is our team, so we do feel a sense of ownership as though we’re entitled to know exactly what went on.”

The 2019 Women’s World Cup gets underway on the 7th of June.

Listen to Lucy Zelic's chat on SEN Afternoons with Andy Maher in the player below