A former Capital Football board member has demanded an independent review of the organisation after it failed to send a single girls' team to the Football Australia national futsal championships this week.
'A slap in the face' to Canberra's girls
Garth Morrison, the ex-board member, labelled the omission a 'slap in the face' to the region's young female players. He said the decision was especially galling given the massive surge in interest and participation following the Matildas' historic run at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The national futsal championships began on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and run through to Saturday. From a possible 13 divisions, Capital Football has sent only five ACT teams: one open women's side and four junior boys' teams (under-12, under-13, under-14, and under-15).
No teams were entered in the three dedicated girls' divisions (under-13, under-15, and under-17) or the youth women's category.
A pattern of failure for women's football
Morrison argued this failure cannot be viewed in isolation. He connected it to a series of recent setbacks for women's football pathways in the Australian Capital Territory.
These include:
- The cancellation of the Canberra United Academy in 2023.
- The ongoing funding crisis plaguing A-League Women's side Canberra United, which Capital Football can no longer afford to run, despite the team currently sitting second on the ladder.
- The collapse of premier league clubs Gungahlin United and ANU Women's NPL teams.
"Taken together, these failures point to a systemic problem," Morrison stated.
Capital Football cites injuries and withdrawals
In response to the criticism, a Capital Football spokesperson blamed injuries and last-minute player withdrawals for the reduced team numbers. The governing body said it consolidated available players to field competitive teams where possible.
"Unfortunately, there were two reasons that we had a reduced number of teams: injuries and unexpected commitments forcing players to drop out leading up to the championships," the spokesperson said.
They highlighted that the open women's team is the defending champion and will be aiming for back-to-back titles.
Calls for accountability and a pathway review
Morrison's call for a review is centred on Capital Football's capacity to develop and deliver football and futsal pathways for girls in the region. He expressed heartbreak over the situation, calling it a 'huge betrayal' of hundreds of eligible players.
"The Capital Football board and senior executives should be deeply ashamed," Morrison said. "At a time when girls' football should be thriving... Capital Football can't even pull together a handful of girls' teams."
The controversy follows earlier administrative delays. Capital Football called for expressions of interest for players and coaches on July 22, 2025, but later postponed trials for the under-14, under-15, and open women's categories on October 13, without providing a public reason or announcing rescheduled dates.
With the phrase 'Enough is enough,' Morrison has signalled that patience has run out among stakeholders demanding equitable support and opportunities for girls in the sport.
