Australia football boss Lowy to step down amid reform battle

Football Federation Australia chairman Steven Lowy said Friday he will not seek re-election later this year, in a shock decision that comes amid a reform battle that could lead to a takeover by FIFA.

The world governing body has been pushing the FFA to expand its membership and adopt a more democratic governance model, or potentially face FIFA taking over the running of the game in Australia.

Lowy, who took over in 2015 after his father Frank Lowy stepped down, said the suggested changes to give domestic A-League clubs more power would hand their foreign owners more control of the game at the expense of grassroots football.