Ex-PNG player blames ‘flawed’ funding for silence in Fifa crisis

Former Papua New Guinea football star Alex Davani has criticized the current funding system for smaller football federations, saying they have remained silent during the ongoing Fifa crisis due to fears of losing vital funding. Davani, who previously served as deputy general secretary of Football Australia, contends that the funding provided by Fifa is discretionary rather than an entitlement, which places smaller federations in a difficult position.

He believes that the discussions surrounding Gianni Infantino's aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal could lead to necessary reforms in Fifa's development funding model. The Oceania federation, which includes 11 member countries, was set to meet to discuss the crisis, but Davani believes they are in a tough spot, with their funding often constituting their entire operational budget.

He emphasizes that the real issue lies in the systems surrounding the development of talent in Oceania, rather than the availability of talent itself. Davani hopes that the football community can return to discussing the sport, especially in a region where it needs to be played more frequently.