David Gallop says the A-League's move to independence prompted his decision to quit as Football Federation Australia's chief executive. Gallop will stand down from his FFA job at the end of December.

He has held the role since August 2012 after a 10-year stint at the NRL's chief executive.

Gallop's decision comes just over a week after the FFA agreed to effectively cede control of the A-League to clubs in a new governance model also taking in the W-League and youth league.

He says the fresh governance...

Alex Morgan, Lionel Messi, Sam Kerr and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all won individual honours at Wednesday's ESPY awards, while the U.S. women's national side was crowned Best Team.

Just days after lifting the Women's World Cup in France, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and the rest of the USWNT were on hand to accept the award at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Along with the Best Team award, Morgan earned the ESPY for Best Female Athlete, joking that it was the second best trophy she has earned...

An impasse over creating an independently-run A-League has been broken with Football Federation Australia to soon cede control to clubs.

A new entity will manage the A-League, W-League and youth league in Australia, with a transition from FFA control next season.

The FFA has reached in-principle agreements with football's various hierarchy in a move which also seemingly assure Wellington Phoenix's long-term future in the A-League.

The Phoenix, whose A-League licence was set to expire at the end...

NICE, France -- The match had ended minutes earlier, but still no one moved. The once rowdy Australian crowd, which started the night swaying and singing "Waltzing Matilda," fell silent. Several Australian players sat on the field, heads in their hands. Others, after crossing the field to shake hands with their Norwegian opponents, walked dazedly toward the sideline, wiping tears from their eyes.

The Matildas' World Cup run was over.

"It's heartbreaking," forward Caitlin Foord said after...