Unhappy with the lack of progress on recognition and inclusion by football authorities, Indigenous representatives in Australia and New Zealand will sign their own ground-breaking 'Football Treaty' in Queensland today.
On the eve of the signing ceremony, letters have also been sent to FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, and president of Football Australia (FA), Chris Nikou, calling for a new model that recognises self-determination, direct funding and recognition of Indigenous representative teams.
With only four months until the start of the FIFA Women's World Cup (FWWC) to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, its expected pressure will build for FIFA to fulfil its own human rights obligations to Indigenous people who seek more than symbolic representation at one of the world's biggest sporting events and a fair share of the benefits that are expected to flow from the tournament.
Chairperson of the Australian Indigenous Football Council (AIFC), Lawrence Gilbert, a Bundjalung man and former Australian Futsal representative, said football authorities have obligations through their own policies that are detailed and comprehensive.
"Under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples all Indigenous peoples globally have the right to self-determination, which means involvement in all decisions that affect our social, political and cultural life," he said.
"In the Australian context, the First Nations have asked Australians to walk with us through the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which ensures that we will have a direct say in our own affairs and work towards treaties across the country.
"The next step for Australian sport is to recognise these rights by empowering our people to manage our own sporting affairs.
"We're delighted to sign this formal sporting treaty … with the full support of the traditional owners of South-East Queensland, where we stand, the Kabi Kabi, Jinibara, Turrbal, Yugambeh, Quandamooka and Yuggera peoples."
The AIFC represents more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It has no links to Football Australia.
It is community-led and managed with oversight of teams, including the Australian Indigenous Roos, the Australian Indigenous Koalas and it also runs the First Nations Indigenous Football Championships.
Although there are First Nations players who have represented at the most senior level — including Matildas Lydia Williams and Kyah Simon, and Socceroos Harry Williams and Jade North — they are part of a small group who remain the exception rather than the rule.
First Nations football authorities say the existing funding and management system of sport has "largely failed", with little access to elite pathways and cultural support.
The Football Treaty with Māori Football Aotearoa (MFA) will see the two groups work together seeking solutions, something they'd like to discuss with the FIFA president next time he visits the FWWC host nations.
"AIFC … along with MFA, are calling on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to recognise these rights of Indigenous peoples and commit to self-led programs around the world," Gilbert said.
"[We] have requested a meeting while he and FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura are on Australian and New Zealand soil during the World Cup."
The treaty has the support of the PFA, the professional player association, with co-chief executive Beau Busch and former Socceroo Craig Foster to attend the signing.
Foster is also Patron of the Indigenous Roos and Indigenous Koalas.
"This sport treaty is part of a new paradigm in global sport which is increasingly bound to respect and promote human rights," Foster said.
"Football has been asked to acknowledge its human rights responsibilities to Indigenous Australia and to empower community-led organisations and initiatives.
"The support of Football Australia for the Uluru Statement from the Heart — along with so many other sports — is welcome and symbolically important. Now, the next step is to bring that statement to life through Indigenous-managed and led programs.
"It is inspiring to see how the Indigenous Roos and Koalas have grown in scale and importance and I would be thrilled if football were to lead in this respect and take substantive steps towards genuine acknowledgement of self-determination."
