Media reports this week claimed FFA chairman Steven Lowy and chief executive David Gallop persuaded representatives from up to four smaller state federations to side with the existing board against the combined forces of the other states, A-League clubs and the PFA.

The various factions have been part of the FIFA Congress Review Working Group chaired by Judith Griggs to finalise a solution to the growing impasse between the different forces in Australian football.

The final report was signed off and delivered to FIFA and the AFC today, but the FFA's influence is said to have left the report in limbo with a proposed new policy – which would see A-League clubs having a bigger say in the running of the sport in Australia – unable to get the 75 percent backing required to implement change.

If so, it will mean FIFA now have to decide whether to sack the current FFA board and send in their own commitee or try to negotiate another solution.

The epic stalemate has sparked a furious reaction among stakeholders including fans and administrators at all levels.

Fledgling fan group Football Supporters Australia today joined the row and demanded the heads of the FFA for failing the sport.

"FSA believes it is time for the chairman, board and CEO of FFA to go," said FSA interim chairman Pablo Bateson this afternoon. "They collectively have failed the football stakeholders of Australia.

"By allowing the Congress reform process to be stretched out over more than two years, the FFA leadership has wasted the time and resources of many stakeholders incuding fans who have contributed with the greater good of the game at heart.

"This has placed the progress of the game in Australia in serious jeopardy."

The FFA hit back this evening though and insisted they were acting in the best interests of the sport in Australia.

A statement added: "FFA totally rejected any suggestion that it has sought to interfere with the work of the CRWG or pressure the decision-making of stakeholders."

And Steven Lowy insisted: “There have been some media reports that suggest FFA has sought to unduly influence the work of the CRWG. These claims are completely false.

"FFA has always encouraged all stakeholders to openly debate and carefully consider these important issues particularly given the inevitable difficulty of only having some Member Federations on the CRWG,” 

The statement added: "FFA remains committed to working constructively with FIFA, AFC and all the stakeholders to produce the best outcome for the game as a whole."