By Tom Wald
December 8th 2009 @ 1:54am
Ben Buckley moves to ease AFL, NRL concerns
Fresh from greasing the wheels of Australia’s World Cup bid with powerbrokers in South Africa, Football Federation Australia boss Ben Buckley has returned home to receive a kicking from rival codes.
His old boss, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, effectively lobbed a hand grenade by stating that Australia winning the right to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups could force the AFL to cancel its season.
In his inflammatory statement, Demetriou claimed staging the premier sporting event could force the MCG to be out of action for four months – a disastrous scenario for his code.
That prompted further carefully-designed attacks on the FFA from NRL chief executive David Gallop and MCG boss Stephen Gough, both calling for more information on how Australia’s bid will affect them.
So instead of talking to the media about the merits of the Socceroos‘ draw for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa on Monday, jet-lagged chief executive Buckley was publicly forced to put out a bushfire started by his old mate Demetriou.
The normally-polished Buckley looked a little miffed about the whole affair as he publicly reiterated his stance that no stadium would be out of action for any longer than eight weeks if Australia’s bid was successful.
And just six weeks if the arena only hosted group fixtures.
Such a length of time is likely to cause severe disruption rather than the cancellation of an NRL or AFL season.
The drama acted as a timely reminder to Buckley that Australia’s fight to claim hosting rights for the World Cup had to be won both at home and abroad.
And that he must keep powerful rival codes on side before the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments are named next December.
Gallop said: “We are not trying to stand in the way of the World Cup bid but we are not prepared to fall off the face of the planet either”.
Buckley said the FFA would discuss with soccer’s governing body, FIFA, the possibility of Australia’s other football codes continuing their competitions during a World Cup.
The prospect, however, of their code being so heavily overshadowed surely wouldn’t be an attractive path for either the AFL or NRL to travel down.
Then Buckley played the card that will be used to settle any squabbling with soccer’s rivals.
“We think the World Cup is bigger than any individual sport,” he said.
“It is the biggest sporting event in the world, it has significant economic benefits to Australia and enhances our standing as a nation around the world and enormous social benefits.
“I think everybody understands that it is just a matter of working together and constructively and we will find some solutions.”
There has been speculation the MCG would need to be configured in a rectangle but Buckley said that wasn’t an option his body was “actively pursuing”.
The FFA has until May to have all the relevant sporting bodies and stadia on board as that is the due date for its World Cup bid book to be handed to FIFA.
With the MCG contractually bound to host AFL games during the winter months, the FFA must rely on goodwill from the code.
Publicly, the AFL and NRL have no choice but to show their support for the showpiece tournament.
But that doesn’t mean they have to make it an armchair ride for the round-ball game either.
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Michael C said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Buckley hasn’t eased anything,
he still doesn’t know,
still hasn’t found out whether the AFL and NRL can continue in host cities or not,
and isn’t able to rule out the tabled option of a 16 week plus requirement for the MCG
Buckley just spun his wheels yesterday and deflected everything – - making it simply more clear that FIFA runs this show.
AndyRoo said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
He has ruled out the 16 week option. i saw him on TV MC!
Redb said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:16am | Report comment
only after Demetriou went public Andyroo.
AndyRoo said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
I don’t want to defend Bucks because I don’t think he is that great (Canberra A league bid was botched by him when it could have been handled so much better).
Demetriou went off too early though and got everyone in a tizz over nothing.
That said yesterday on Fox sports it was the only AFL story when you click on the news link. Pretty depressing for egg ballers all round yesterday because there was only one story in each category and the headlines went
AFL “Demetriou AFL season may be cancelled” which as a headline by itself is a bit of a worry.
NRL ” Bird joins Gold Coast” did take some prior knowledge that Bird is a bad boy though
RU “Cooper arrested”
Michael C said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
On radio yesterday he stated that it was one of the options identified but not likely that they would be pushing forward with it,
however, what if FIFA said ‘jump’,
would the FFA ‘jump’??
At any rate, there were people yesterday claiming that Demetriou had invented it and lied,
obviously, Demetriou hadn’t and wasn’t – and it’s forced Buckley to get on the public record.
Smart move by Demetriou, wouldn’t you reckon??
Demetriou has also forced Buckley onto the public record around the AFL and NRL.
Now – we have a line in the sand and it’s up to Buckley and the FFA to do the right thing.
Again, smart move by Demetriou, wouldn’t you reckon??
Sadly – this is what people have to do, I reckon the AFL learned that during the illicit drugs debate that Messers Howard, Brandis and Pyne made very public with misinformation and untruths.
AndyRoo said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Perhaps a smart move if he wants his game to forever be called Vicball.
A national code threatning to shut up shop because of one stadium in Melbourne being unavailable whilst true wouldn’t fill the AFL fans in WA, SA, NSW and QLD with a great deal of pride.
Michael C said | December 8th 2009 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
I reckon this ’shut up shop’ scenario though is a combination of :
A. MCG U/A for 12-16 weeks or more,
and
B. FIFA enforcing a host city exclusion
It’s not just one stadium at any rate when Docklands, Homebush, Adelaide (whichever), Whatever in Perth – Subiaco or something new, etc etc……..
It’s not ‘just one stadium’, you can’t just pluck one element out in isolation.
AndyRoo said | December 8th 2009 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
But neither of those scenarios is going to play out
i.e. the rectangle MCG drawing or the Host city part….just scare mongering.
Their will be some disruption due to venue loss for 6 weeks but with 13 years to plan around it I think the AFL/NRL will be allright.
Punter said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Neither does Andy D & it didn’t stop him spinning the wheels yesterday.
Karma.
Redb said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
This is an opinion piece rather than an objective report.
Buckley has not eased concerns at all by saying the FFA is lobbying for the AFL or NRL to continue. Where exactly are they to play games?
“The normally-polished Buckley looked a little miffed about the whole affair ”
Yes becuase he effectively just had his nose punched with claret dripping by his former Boss who caught him and Lowy out at their little games of “let’s see what we can get away with”.
Redb
katzilla said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:19am | Report comment
They could write a straight to TV drama about this whole affair. Its got so many backs up.
Call it – Buckley’s chance 2018?
M1tch said | December 8th 2009 @ 11:15am | Report comment
its a bit like 2012 – the end of the world for 2 footy codes
pete said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Buckley said:
“The AFL and the NRL had been kept in the loop over the bidding plans for more than a year, and his organisation had never suggested a season-long lockdown”
&
”Based on all the estimates we have done maximum disruption would be around eight weeks. ‘If a venue is not playing in the semi-finals or final those venues could come on line sooner.”
Pippinu said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Buckley’s full of BS.
Michael C said | December 8th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
‘no worries’ just doesn’t cut the mustard.
Pete -
Buckley was not able to deny that the range of prosposals included (although he doesn’t regard it a likely outcome) a proposal to rectangularise the MCG and require at least 16 weeks due to the works to the G,…let alone any requirement post the WC. This equates to a season lockdown of the MCG.
Such an imposition would severely impact the capacity of the AFL to run a season. Highly unlikely – but, it’s in the public domain now that such an selfish and arrogant proposal was considered. That they would have the nerve to expect the AFL and MCC to agree is another matter…..you could only imagine that option would be considered with the aid of govt legislation.
So, correct, Buckley hasn’t talked about a season long lockdown, however, one (extreme) possibility might include that as the effective outcome. Demetriou has at least ensured now, that the MCG won’t be off line for more than 8 weeks….and even 8 weeks is very, very much stretching the friendship.
Just remember, the AFL doesn’t have to do anything at this point. Nor the NRL. They don’t have to stop. That’s FIFA’s position.
M1tch said | December 8th 2009 @ 11:15am | Report comment
NZ want State of Origin so perhaps its off to NZ for the 6 weeks for the NRL teams!
AndyRoo said | December 8th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
I think the NRL is least effected because of so many regional teams.
I think one SOO match in NZ is fine and would probably happen before 2022 anyway, afterall it has allready gone to Melbourne twice.
Should be pushing for another stadium in Brisbane that holds 80k, not sure where you could build it though. Then Brisbane could host every 3rd NRL grand Final
M1tch said | December 8th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Suncorp, ANZ, SFS, Energy Australia are still main grounds, clubs are nervous because they will lose alot of money from stadium deals.
Suncorp needs to be upgraded, thats why I dont think the NRL wants to take it, 52k for a Grand Final after 10 years of 80k plus, well it doesnt make sense
Michael C said | December 8th 2009 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
NRL -
it still remains to be seen if ‘host city’ exclusion applies or not. If Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle? Townsville? Gold Coast (i.e. would WC at Carrara make Robina off limits??) and Melbourne are off limits…..that’s why the AFL and NRL want answers about the FIFA rulings about major competitions.
It’s still the thing……would a RL test b/w Aust and NZ potentially drawing 30K be deemed a ‘major competition’ whilst a SoO drawing 80K might escape as being deemed ‘domestic’?? Buckley needs to define this. If he can massage FIFA to allow NRL and AFL access to host cities, then, suddenly – ALL the public good will returns to the FFA bid. It’s that simple