Football Federation Australia (FFA) is pleased to announce that three newly appointed FFA management members have been assigned positions on Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Committees, providing Australian football an enhanced opportunity to engage directly with AFC, its Member Associations, and contribute to the development of football across the vast and diverse Confederation.
FFA General Manager Commercial, Tom Rischbieth, FFA General Manager Member Federation Relations, Robbie Middleby, and FFA Interim Technical Director and Joeys Head Coach, Trevor Morgan, have each been appointed to AFC Standing Committees through to 2023.
Rischbieth will join the AFC Marketing Committee, former Socceroo Middleby the AFC Development Committee, and Morgan the AFC Technical Committee.
AFC Committees are charged with enhancing the growth, development, and professionalism of football in Asia. FFA Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, explained that it is important that Australia enhances its ability to work with its peers from across the continent to advance the sport.
“In the XI Principles for the future of Australian football discussion paper, we outlined a vision for Australia to become one of the leading voices in global football, and to have our people ‘hard-wired’ into regional football matters,” Johnson said.
“Football is the world game and it is extremely important that we become an organisation which thinks globally. These latest appointments ensure that Australia is able to tap into the vast network of global football and has the ongoing opportunity to contribute ideas and energy to discussions and projects aimed at advancing Asian football.
“Along with recent new appointments to the FFA senior management team, we are also privileged to have Tom, Robbie and Trevor contribute to a fresh new strategic agenda for football in Australia and now look forward to the positive contributions they can make to the respective Committees that they have been appointed to at the AFC. With their passion, experience, and expertise, I trust that each will forge connections and relationships with representatives from our fellow Member Associations that serve to enhance Australia’s relations and reputation throughout AFC.”
Adelaide-born Rischbieth commenced with the FFA in March 2020 having spent the past six years working with UK-based company ‘Sports Rights Management’, where he held the position of Commercial Director. He has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide.
Like Rischbieth, Middleby commenced with FFA in March this year, having previously worked as a consultant and advisor for FIFA, managing club licensing across Oceania, Asia, and Africa. A former Chief Executive Officer of Newcastle Jets FC, Middleby is also a former player in the National Soccer League and Hyundai A-League, having worn the green and gold of the Socceroos five times in 2002.
Morgan was appointed to the role of Interim Technical Director at FFA last month, however, has been the Head Coach of the Joeys (Australia’s U-17 men’s national football team) since 2018. Last year Morgan guided Australia to the knockout phase of the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Brazil. Morgan was the Director of Football at Westfields Sports High School for over 20 years and has worked as both a Youth and Assistant Coach for Western Sydney Wanderers FC in the past.
