Croatia Deakin, Gungahlin Juventus could return under new FFA guidelines

Capital Football has welcomed the FFA's new club identity guidelines, allowing clubs to return to their cultural roots and acknowledge their heritage through their name, logo or jersey.

The draft version of the FFA's new identity guidelines were revealed in a report on Friday, acknowledging the desire of clubs to respectfully recognise their heritage.

The draft, titled "FFA Inclusivity Principles for Club Identity" (ICPI), encourages clubs to "identify themselves in an all-embracing and inclusive manner that is welcoming to all participants in preference to using monoculture branding which may be viewed as exclusionary".

It comes after the FFA reviewed and overturned the National Club Identity Policy (NCIP) that was controversially introduced before the inaugural FFA Cup competition in 2014.

The NCIP banned all Australian soccer clubs from using names, colours, or symbols with ethnic, national, political, racial or religious identifiers.

In contrast, the new policy is only to be used as a guide and "are not intended to be enforceable, strict regulations".

Capital Football boss Phil Brown says the tools provided by the FFA in the guidelines will help improve the environment for all clubs.

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"The inclusion and diversity guidelines and principles provides clubs with tools to understand initiatives they can run to be inclusive of all," Brown said.

"It also allows clubs themselves to determine how they celebrate and recognise the heritage of their clubs.

"It recognises the significant influence the founders of all those clubs had in establishing the game, which is important."

Under the new policy clubs can pay tribute to their ethnic heritage through their name, logos and jerseys.

Canberra FC could revert to their traditional name of Croatia Deakin, or Gungahlin United could acknowledge their Italian heritage.

Canberra Olympic was founded by the local Greek community in the northern suburbs in 1956 and their blue-and-white jersey bears the colours the country's national flag.

Olympic coach Frank Cachia believes the guidelines are a "step in the right direction" but says the club won't change their identity.

"A large majority of clubs throughout Australia will embrace it because it signifies the multiculturalism within the country and the sport itself," Cachia said.

"I don't think we would change anything because we've been Canberra Olympic for a long time. [Our Greek heritage] doesn't exclude anyone from being part of the club.

"It's great because we're very inclusive. If you go through our first-grade team, it's not made up with a majority of Greeks. We base our selections on the best players who are available to us."

Brown says clubs will welcome the new guidelines but doesn't think there will be any "wholesale changes".

"I think some clubs will have a look at [the guidelines] and consult their communities, players, volunteers and parents and see if there's a way to better represent their football community," Brown said.

"It's great that FFA took the approach to engage with the football community to understand their thoughts on the national club identity policy.

"It was a genuine consultation, they've listened to what people have said and have come out with guidelines and principles that will improve the environment for all clubs."

It's understood the policy will be accepted at the next FFA board meeting.

Meanwhile Tigers FC beat Belconnen United 3-2 and Woden-Weston drew with Riverina Rhinos 1-1 in the Canberra premier league on Saturday.