International Australian Football Council
Encyclopedia
The International Australian Football Council (IAFC) was a body established in 1995 to govern the sport
of Australian rules football
internationally. It was established by a small number of amateur football bodies.
The IAFC was established after the Arafura Games
, held in Darwin
, Northern Territory
, Australia
.
The Arafura Games were the first international games to have Australian rules football as a competition, rather than a demonstration sport. Papua New Guinea
won the Gold medal that year and retained it in subsequent games. The national delegations that fielded Australian rules football teams met and decided to form a central body to co-ordinate efforts to promote the game in their own nations. The IAFC was founded as a result of this meeting, the first president being Will McKenzie (New Zealand
).
The IAFC helped organise the first Australian Football International Cup
in Melbourne
in 2002 which was won by Ireland
.
As the primary rulemaker in Australia, the Australian Football League (AFL) refused to recognise the IAFC's role to govern the rules of the code internationally (given that it was primarily responsible for small amateur competitions). As a response, the AFL brought on its own international game development initiatives and funding, limiting the scope and purpose of the IAFC to a promotional body. In line with these initiatives, many leagues around the world formally affiliated with the AFL and the AFL negotiated the unanimous voluntary dissolution (by member country vote) of the IAFC at the end of 2002 in a successful (in the eyes of most established international Leagues) attempt to gain the status of world governing body.
Some individual people, members of the IAFC, voted to continue under the IAFC banner as the "International Australian Football Confederation". This body instigated the Multicultural Cup competitions in 2004 and 2005, involving expatriate communities living in Australia, of which Israel won the first, while Greece won the second. It also played a role in organising the first EU Cup
. This organisation eventually changed its name to Aussie Rules International
, which functioned as a development and promotional body only.
By 2004, the AFL formed its own International Policy, the first of its kind since the formation of the IAFC and became formally recognised as the world governing body for the sport.
). In 1905, an official Australasian Football Council was formed, after delegates from the North and South Islands of New Zealand became involved. This body is in no way related to the International Australian Football Council, although the principle is the same. By 1927, this body had changed its name to that of the Australian National Football Council owing to New Zealand no longer being represented. The organisation disbanded some time due to the localisation of the Australian rules football code and the dominance of the Victorian Football League
.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
internationally. It was established by a small number of amateur football bodies.
The IAFC was established after the Arafura Games
Arafura Games
The Arafura Games is a Multi-sport event held every 2 years in the Australian city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. It is an international event which draws its competitors from around the world. First held in 1991, the most recent Games, held in 2009, involved over 30 nations and over 3,000...
, held in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The Arafura Games were the first international games to have Australian rules football as a competition, rather than a demonstration sport. Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
won the Gold medal that year and retained it in subsequent games. The national delegations that fielded Australian rules football teams met and decided to form a central body to co-ordinate efforts to promote the game in their own nations. The IAFC was founded as a result of this meeting, the first president being Will McKenzie (New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
).
The IAFC helped organise the first Australian Football International Cup
Australian Football International Cup
The Australian Football International Cup is an international sport competition in Australian rules football...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 2002 which was won by Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
As the primary rulemaker in Australia, the Australian Football League (AFL) refused to recognise the IAFC's role to govern the rules of the code internationally (given that it was primarily responsible for small amateur competitions). As a response, the AFL brought on its own international game development initiatives and funding, limiting the scope and purpose of the IAFC to a promotional body. In line with these initiatives, many leagues around the world formally affiliated with the AFL and the AFL negotiated the unanimous voluntary dissolution (by member country vote) of the IAFC at the end of 2002 in a successful (in the eyes of most established international Leagues) attempt to gain the status of world governing body.
Some individual people, members of the IAFC, voted to continue under the IAFC banner as the "International Australian Football Confederation". This body instigated the Multicultural Cup competitions in 2004 and 2005, involving expatriate communities living in Australia, of which Israel won the first, while Greece won the second. It also played a role in organising the first EU Cup
EU Cup
thumb|Logo of the 2007 EU CupThe EU Cup is an international Australian rules football tournament played between European national teams. Played under 9-a-side Footy rules, the tournament was first held at Chiswick Rugby Club in London, England in 2005 as an extension of the Central European...
. This organisation eventually changed its name to Aussie Rules International
Aussie Rules International
Aussie Rules International promotes and develops the sport of Australian rules football internationally. Committed to working with all stakeholders to assist the international growth of the sport, its focus is on:...
, which functioned as a development and promotional body only.
By 2004, the AFL formed its own International Policy, the first of its kind since the formation of the IAFC and became formally recognised as the world governing body for the sport.
Background
In 1890, the first Australasian Football Council is formed in Melbourne under Australasian Rules to take control of all International Football matches (14 years before FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
). In 1905, an official Australasian Football Council was formed, after delegates from the North and South Islands of New Zealand became involved. This body is in no way related to the International Australian Football Council, although the principle is the same. By 1927, this body had changed its name to that of the Australian National Football Council owing to New Zealand no longer being represented. The organisation disbanded some time due to the localisation of the Australian rules football code and the dominance of the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.