World governing body president Gianni Infantino counted FFA chief executive James Johnson as one of his closest lieutenants during the latter’s six years in Zurich, and will be well aware of the fiscal fallout which has prompted FFA to stand down 70 per cent of its staff.
FIFA announced earlier this week it had drawn up plans to distribute a portion of its $4.4 billion in cash reserves to help financially distressed subordinates survive the COVID-19 cash crunch.
And Johnson - who during his time at FIFA oversaw relations with the world’s top clubs, leagues and player unions as Head of Professional Football - is well-placed to present a strong case for cash-strapped FFA.
Domestically, FFA is a member of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS), which is in the process of lobbying the federal government for financial aid in terms of payroll tax relief and eligibility for the job keeper package.
COMPPS also represents the interests of AFL, the Australian Rugby Union, Cricket Australia, NRL and Netball Australia.
The worldwide football eco-system is already brimming with distress calls during the great lockdown.
Former Slovakian champion MSK Zilina has entered liquidation, A-League clubs have stood down players and staff without pay and the Uruguay association has laid off coach Oscar Tabarez and 400 of his federation colleagues.
To complicate matters for FFA, rights holder Fox Sports is believed to be looking to extricate itself from the remaining three years of its $57.6 million per annum deal.
The next quarterly payment of $11.5 million is due to FFA on April 14 - with $9.4 million of that earmarked for the clubs.
If the payment is not forthcoming, Fox Sports can expect legal ramifications in battle of high stakes brinksmanship.
As the deadline nears, with Fox Sports seemingly playing hard ball, an FFA spokesperson told The World Game: “We expect payment as per our contract.”
In Zurich, high level talks are already underway over how the rescue package should be distributed, with the global players’ union appealing for cash to be funneled into the smaller markets, rather than the elite end of the game.
“FIFA is in a strong financial situation and it’s our duty to do the utmost to help them in their hour of need,” the world governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.
“FIFA is working on possibilities to provide assistance to the football community around the world after making a comprehensive assessment of the financial impact this pandemic will have on football.”
The fund could take the form of bridging loans and even emergency grants and would be managed outside of FIFA’s current development budget, which disperses $10 million across a four-year cycle to each of its 211 member associations.
