FFA Chairman Steven Lowy AM today paid tribute to John Constantine and his legacy. “Football in Australia has come a long way and our future is exciting but we never forget our rich history and the contributions made by the past leaders of our game, including John, who helped lay the foundations.
“The football family remembers John with affection and respect and our deepest condolences go out to the Constantine family at this most difficult time,” concluded Lowy. Born in Cyprus in 1946, John Constantine came to Sydney in 1954 where he began playing football at Enmore school.
He went on to represent Western Districts at three age levels before joining Apia and Pan Hellenic. In 1976, Constantine became a member of the Sydney Olympic board, a position he held for six years until his appointment as President of the NSW Federation in 1982.
In 1990 he was elected chairman of the Australian Soccer Federation, serving with distinction for five years. In his long sports administration career, Constantine was section manager at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, a member of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust from 1985-1998, and a member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic bid committee.
As national soccer leader, he organised a corporate administration restructure and helped stage the 1993 World Youth Championship. Other career highlights include his appointment by FIFA to various executive committees and the successful negotiation of pay television rights for Australian soccer.
Constantine was made a Life Member of Soccer Australia in 1997 and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for services to soccer in 1992. In 2001 Constantine was inducted into the FFA Hall of Fame for his services to football as an administrator. John is survived by his wife Olga and his children Lea, Dean, Sophia and Christina, AAP reports.
Details of his funeral service are yet to be announced.