Football Federation Australia chairman Chris Nikou has backed Socceroos and Olyroos coach Graham Arnold over the Cambodia scandal that has seen four players suspended.
Arnold took on both roles when he was appointed the head coach last year in a bid to streamline the development and integration of players between the two squads.
But he has since faced questions over his ability to juggle the two jobs with a clash in international dates meaning he is unable to be in two places at once.
Gary van Egmond was the coach for the September Olyroos' match with New Zealand while Arnold was with the Socceroos in Kuwait.
But Arnold was with his Olyroos squad for the three-match series of AFC U23 Championship qualification in March, which saw Australia beat Cambodia 6-0, Chinese Taipei 6-0 and draw 2-2 with South Korea.
It was during the tournament that an incident involving the four players and a woman is said to have taken place.
A complaint was later filed by the woman about the players' behaviour which has been investigated for the FFA by Core Integrity, a firm which claims they "help organisations protect their people, reputation and bottom line."
Adelaide United striker Riley McGree is now banned from international selection until April and will miss the Tokyo 2020 qualifiers in Thailand this January, but will be able to compete at the Olympics if the Olyroos make it.
However Melbourne City's Lachlan Wales and Nathaniel Atkinson, and Perth Glory's Brandon WIlson will all miss the Olympics, with an international ban until August.
The incident is understood to have occurred in the squad's team hotel towards the end of the tournament.
However the board refuses to attach any blames to Arnold.
"Graham, from what I've seen, gave very clear instructions of what his expectations were," said FFA chairman Chris Nikou today.
"Unfortunately human nature is - you have take accountability for your actions and these guys have let themselves down."
He added: "I'm not allowed to talk about the specifics around Cambodia. There is a review pending on that so I'm limited in what I can say."
The FFA already has a review into the whole national team structure currently in its final stages which was launched in the wake of the Alen Stajcic sacking from the Matildas in January.
A copy of that report has now been given to the board and an edited version of it is expected to be given to FFA Congress Members.
The FFA then plans to set up a new sub-committee featuring newly appointed directors Mark Bresciano and Amy Duggan under the leadership of Joseph Carrozzi to decide the next steps, with input from Professional Footballers Australia.
Nikou added: "There are a number of recommendations about best practice we should aspire to.
"They are separate issues [to the Cambodia incident]. There are potential implications internationally for us in Cambodia and broadly."
Nikou refused to comment on whether the Cambodia incident prompted the early exit of board members Crispin Murray and Kelly Bayer Rosmarin last month.
"You'd have to ask them," said Nikou. "I served for four years with them, they're great board directors, they served during a challenging period with the FFA and I wish them well.
"What was important was that we went through a thorough process of investigation to ascertain the facts and put them before the board and that's exactly what we did.
"The players accepted they'd breached the code of conduct. I don't think that's in dispute."
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