The CRWG report came out last week with a string of recommendations to overhaul the way football is run in Australia.

It included key changes that would see more representation for players and clubs on the FFA’s Congress and ultimately influencing how the FFA is run.

But FSA has blasted the lack of involvement of fans in the new proposals – and the long route ahead of them to have a say.

Interim FSA chairman Pablo Bateson says the report shows a “lack of understanding of the role of fans in football governance.”

He added: “There is very little recognition of fans in the report even though they are the single biggest stakeholder in football within Australia.

“Although the CRWG Chair included the terms fans and supporters several times in her introduction, their importance was barely mentioned later..

“Under the current proposal, it seems doubtful that fans will be engaged as a key stakeholder.

“The vast majority of fans pay for the ‘privilege’ of involvement in football. By contrast, most other representatives and officials assured of a place on the proposed new Congress will be in well-paid positions.”

Part of the new plan opens the doors to new special interest groups getting a seat and a vote on congress - but only after they have proved their long-term lifespan by surviving on the sidelines for years as prat of the entry criteria.

“The most far reaching implications for potential involvement of fans in new governance arrangements features in criteria for special interest groups known as ‘FFA new member pathway’” said Bateson.

“There are three phases starting from qualifying member progressing to associate/provisional member and then full member after four years.

“With these requirements, rights and obligations needing to be first met yet, the timelines seem to be too lengthy and so may discourage many SIGs.”

Even if they can endure the long wait to be heard, they may still not get a place in Congress.

Bateson added: “In the Congress Membership Model there appear to be few positions available for SIGs, and fans are once again not shown as examples under this category.

“Fan engagement is needed now

“A big intermediate step that could be taken would be to establish an Advisory Council for fans’ groups. This needs to happen before the end of the 2018 calendar year.”

But despite the disappoint of the lack of recognition Bateson overall welcomed the CRWG report.

He added: “Despite major weaknesses, FSA has accepted the report as an important stepping stone towards eventual major governance reforms.

“[But] good governance begins in our own backyard at the grassroots level of football fans culture.

“If we can progress [that], it will collectively give fans a much stronger case for increased representation in decision making and governance at all levels of our game.”