FFA chief executive David Gallop has conceded he “got it wrong” by failing to come out earlier and denounce the banned fans leak, while chairman Steven Lowy has vowed to review the A-League’s appeals policy.

Lowy fronted the media for the first time on Thursday in response to deepening fan anger across the code following News Corp Australia’s publication of 198 banned spectators late last month.

Tensions have boiled over since Gallop’s media conference on Tuesday, when his perceived inability to show leadership and defend the sport led to outcry from coaches, executives and players.

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Active supporter groups from Western Sydney, Sydney FC and Central Coast subsequently stepped up their protests from last weekend’s walkouts, pledging to boycott this week’s matches entirely.

Gallop, who remained all but silent on the issue for 10 days while he was away in India, admitted “we should have said more earlier”.

“It was an article that unfairly tarnished the vast majority of decent football people,” Gallop said.

Lowy said he would take a proposal to review the unpopular banning process to the FFA board later on Thursday, adding a new policy should be finalised by the next board meeting in February.

He said it would involve extensive consultation with all stakeholders including fans.

Supporters are furious FFA is still insisting fans seeking to have a ban overturned must prove their innocence while the governing body won’t disclose evidence used to ban them.

FFA and CEO David Gallop have had a tumultuous week. Photo: AAP

Gallop said that was something the review would address, but it was far from a done deal.

“On the one side, you want complete transparency. On the other, you want to protect the ability to get that information,” he said.

“There is information that comes in on a confidential basis and it’s only provided if it’s kept confidential, so we’ve got to be careful how we look at that in this review.”

It is understood the reason FFA is unable to share evidence with the fans is due to a binding legal agreement with NSW Police.

Gallop acknowledged more effort was needed in consulting with fans on a wide range of issues across the game.

Active supporter groups have outright disputed Gallop’s claim on Tuesday that FFA had been in regular contact with groups.

He said those channels of dialogue were now being opened.

“We’re here to say we’ve learnt some lessons,” Gallop said.

“The lesson are: stay engaged, give opportunities for people to give feedback, consult with these groups and make sure that they feel consulted with.”

Lowy said he had met NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, the SCG Trust and the chairmen of A-League clubs to help understand and defuse the issue.

While calling for calm among fans, he also condemned some public figures and members of the media for slandering football fans as “suburban terrorists” and “grubby pack animals”, the latter a comment by assistant police commissioner Kyle Stewart.

“I think it’s wrong, I think it’s offensive and I think it’s said by people who don’t understand the game,” he said.

“If you understand the game, that’s not what the vast majority of the fans are.”

-AAP