Do we actually deserve to host a Football World Cup?
Columnist By Davidde Corran, 9 Dec 2009 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, Ben Buckley, football, Football World Cup
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Australia's Tim Cahill wins the ball against Abe Yuki of Japan, during their final match of the Asia Qualifiers round for the 2010 World Cup, in Melbourne, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Australia beat Japan 2-1, with both countries having already qualified for next year's World Cup in South Africa. AAP Image/Joe Castro
That many of football and Aussie Rules’ staunchest supporters have never seen eye-to-eye goes without saying. But the schism that has now formed between two former team-mates, Ben Buckley and Andrew Demetriou, is a sad indictment of the polarised sporting landscape in Australia.
Buckley was best man at Demetriou’s wedding, but naturally that shouldn’t affect their work in a professional capacity. Instead, it’s the vitriol that has come from both sides of the recent “AFL versus the World” debate that is depressing.
Scouring through the 500 plus comments on a piece covering the issue here by Adrian Musolino on The Roar yesterday, I was shocked by the misconceptions that many had based their opinions on.
The truth is that few, if anyone, had all the facts in front of them to draw accurate conclusions on what was and had transpired.
Many of the opinions expressed right across the internet and mainstream media on the issue stemmed from the great sadness of our proud sporting landscape. Even though some of us do, we just generally don’t seem to be able to get along.
As well as being a football journalist, I’m a Melbournian, a member of an AFL team, and a member of an A-League team.
I’m also proud of every one of those facts.
However, I am constantly left feeling disappointed by the bickering between both sets of fans. I am sick of listening to Aussie Rules fans revelling in the same stereotypes that led Johnny Warren to title his autobiography “Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters.”
At the same time, I am fed up with members of Australia’s football community hypocritically pointing the finger and laughing at AFL’s anachronistic traditions and ‘macho’ culture.
I often feel like I have to hide my love of ‘the other code’ depending on whether I am around Aussie Rules or football fans. In reality, each group is just alienating the other and doing so for no gain other then a few trite giggles.
Psychologists have a general rule that any argument between two people that goes longer then ten minutes is no longer talking about the original issue.
By that point, previous disagreements and issues tend to get dredged up and a resolution on the original point of contention is rarely found.
Football and Aussie Rules has certainly been played for more then ten minutes in this country, and the same old arguments have been coming up for nearly as long.
I’m not appropriating blame, or saying who is right or wrong, but this week Andrew Demetriou and the Australian media have played off this very status quo.
It’s disappointing but unsurprising.
Both have their own stakeholders and are the AFL is within its right to protect its huge chunk of the sporting landscape, while the media are justified in trying to boost its sales.
That doesn’t remove the dark pit from the bottom of my stomach, though.
So all of this has left me wondering whether Australia really does deserve a World Cup. If we in Australia can’t even get our backyard in order, how can we claim to be the best candidate to host the world’s biggest sporting event?
In truth, we do deserve to be involved in bidding for the hosting rights, but I’m starting to wonder whether my hometown of Melbourne does.
It saddens me to say it, but if Melbourne is not ready to wholly embrace the tournament, then maybe we don’t deserve a key role.
The endless bickering between Australia’s different, though not rival, codes leaves no winners.
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- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, Ben Buckley, football, Football World Cup
December 9th 2009 @ 8:16am
Lu said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:16am | Report comment
I am a proud Man united, Melbourne Victory and Socceroos supporter. But i am also equally proud Brisbane Lions supporter too (and we’re gonna win 2010 premiership.. but thats a different thread).. I simply can’t believe all this debate, particularly from AFL ultras (hows that for a tie in?).
If.. and thats a big IF, we get the World cup in 2022.. thats 12 years away.. and if the last 10 years is anything to go by then the AFL will be bigger, strong and better than it ever has been. It will have more supporters, more teams, entrentched itself in the Northern states, amass possibly billions of dollars of TV rights, etc, etc.
All the world cup is asking for is 3, maybe 4 months of disruptions. A sport that is as dominant as AFL and has lasted over 120 years (by then) will not die in those months. Agreed it will have less coverage leading into the world cup and that the “football/soccer frenzy” may last a few years afterwards.. but look at USA, Japan, South Korea. After their world cup, life went back to normal. if anything it took the USA about 12 years and the might of david beckham (himself a global event) before the MSL really hit some kind of stride, and still they struggle against the might of their “indigenous” sports (NFL, MLB, NBA).
But i’m soo over this debate already.. it’s turned soo political, and you know when it turns political it means that there are people out to protect their own self interest over all else.. We don’t deserve to showcase our country to the world.. the World cup belongs to the world and it really feels like we don’t want to be part of the “world”.
December 9th 2009 @ 8:26am
Brett McKay said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:26am | Report comment
All very well said Davidde – you get the impression this week that if Australia does happen to snare a World Cup, it will be well and truly despite best efforts to cut off our own bid’s legs…
December 9th 2009 @ 8:33am
Michael C said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
THe SMH actually carries a brilliant run down of the situation here .
This run down explains it pretty well,
and leaves one scratching one’s head as to why there’s been trumpeting about stadium upgrades and govt funding and yet $150 mill to expand the Swan St stadium and give soccer it’s own dedicated reward – - – is somehow too expensive,
which leaves the FFA on a collission course with the AFL.
For Buckley to now be floating ideas of seeking Govt intervention to push the AFL out, or threatening less games for MElbourne…….that’s petulant,
but – the quesiton is, Buckley should know better – - and it seems to me that someone is pushing his buttons on this……probabl a F.Lowy type person. And I reckon Demetriou knows this too. And Gallop for that matter.
6 weeks ago we had the stage managed releases from the FFA about how soccer had not benefitted from the Sydney Olympic soccer tournament (including lies and misleading info around MCG and Gabba)……..this is a carefully planned media program by the FFA to portray themselves one way and the other codes (AFL) another way. It’s blown up in their face.
December 9th 2009 @ 8:35am
etat said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Wha’ts that Pippinu – the new rectangular stadium in Melbourne isn’t part of the bid yet Melbourne has put forward two cricket / Australian Football ovals as contenders for hosting?
Unbelievable. Melbourne – it’s a little bit disorganised.
December 9th 2009 @ 8:49am
Pippinu said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
etat
the issue of too many cricket ovals has existed from day one – it’s not as if this is a revelation all of a sudden.
December 9th 2009 @ 8:38am
KP said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Kurt you’re spot on regarding plebs not understanding the full equation,
stevo here’s my responses to your rather unthought reasons as to why the WC is screwing your country
beggars removed? I’m pretty sure sydney did it for the Olympics and Melbourne for Comm games – every country on the planet does it! I agree its not right but i dont think the world has many misconceptions of SA – the world has been watching it since it won the bid, it knows what its like.
No Rugby internationals? have you not read that part of the bid is that no “competing” international sport is to be played in the area – firstly rugby should be chuffed that its come so far that mighty FIFA is worried about it being played, and secondly, its only 2 months of no rugby, thats just an off-season mate, and i’m sure they’ll be back onto it right on the tail of the cup to get some buck off it
Passes to get into the city centre? the MAIN concern most of the world has with the world cup in SA is the security, i’m certain as a law abiding citizen you dont need to worry about getting a pass??
no informal trading – informal trading cant be taxed and helps no-one, we all hate our taxes but they pay for roads, schools and hospitals – if half your economy is running tax free no wonder the govt is soo poor.
Fifa fights is against racism, is against rich clubs, and all for developing sport as a way of getting out of poverty, thats why those great people from SA have got on board – they’re not stupid star gazing idiots, they’re intelligent people, give them some credit.
think before you make broad statements, think about an opinon before you make one.
December 9th 2009 @ 8:55am
Michael C said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
btw – Daily Telegraph running a snippet re the “NRL displacement strategy”,
and includes : “Some club bosses feel the lost revenue could sound the death knell for cash-strapped outfits, but there’s a widespread view the NRL will have little choice but to suspend its competition rather than take on the world’s biggest sporting event.”
hmmm, but, the NRL may not have the bargaining position the AFL has, do you reckon this is going to see the NRL lads backing the AFL to the hilt??
strange bedfellows.
December 9th 2009 @ 8:59am
Pippinu said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
MC
even stranger is the fact that Gallop has been even more belligerent from day one – but the media has not focussed on that one bit – rather – all the focus is on whether the FFA can pinch one of the AFL’s ovals (scratching head)
December 9th 2009 @ 9:08am
Michael C said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
what really dumbfounds me, is, back in October we read this from Michael Cockerill :
“the 2000 Olympic Games – the game got stitched up by rival administrators, in bed with a compliant government. Stadiums in Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney got significant public-funded upgrades because of football, but football itself only benefited in the case of Adelaide (Hindmarsh Stadium). Lowy simply will not let it happen again.”
now, if he’s so sure Frank Lowy won’t let this happen again, then, how come Frank Lowy is shying away from encouraging $150 million to be spent on expanding the Swan St stadium?!?!?
Surely they want that as part of the process??
It makes zero sense not to.
So, if it’s too expensive, then $150 million is the extent of it. The FIFA WC isn’t worth $150 million??
December 9th 2009 @ 9:13am
Timmypig said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Pip
Interesting indeed, but then again the NRL’s current and immediately foreseeable financial model relies less on filling large grounds, and more on TV rights. So one may argue that the NRL has far far less to lose than the AFL.
In fact the NRL could take games from the SFS and Olympic Stadium, and from Lang Park, and run a few suburban grounds / country towns rounds during the WC window. Temporary stadium upgrades will still leave improvements after the temporary stands are removed, so the NRL in fact has reasons to start actively supporting the WC bid.
December 9th 2009 @ 9:31am
Michael C said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
still depends – and we don’t know this – depends on whether FIFA allow a host city exemption or not.
You can’t play 8 or 9 matches for AFL and 8 or 9 matches for NRL in Goulburn, Wagga, Albury, Ballarat and MtGambier. Just not feasable. ONly a fool would suggest that.
The NRL at very least, needs the suburban grounds…….but,….how many of those has the FFA got eyed off for training bases for the 32 nations??? They want the best, not the worst venues.
If the host city exemption applies – both AFL and NRL will be pretty doable, but, the AFL needs Docklands and the NRL…..needs the SCG??
December 9th 2009 @ 9:15am
keeper11 said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Shows the AD, AFL and their motley crew of myopic, sycophantic ex footy ‘legends’ , hacks and has-beens that unfortunately control the media in the southern states for what they really are…
The Boss Hogg from the Deep South of australian sport….
Choose panic, xenophobic fear mongering and hostility rather than legitimate and civilised negotiating..
Will the AFL comp be disrupted somewhat?..yes
Will AFL be compensated?…yes
Will the AFL gain from basically all infrustructure upgrades?..YES YES YES
Will it be the “end” of AFL?
…so do the AFL zealots really have so little faith in their ‘great’ game..
all to actively thwart and undermine a truly National event of Olympic Game proportions ..possibly 12 years away !!
…Pathetic
December 9th 2009 @ 9:20am
Redb said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
You really need to control your emotions. Your views are just as polarising as the zealouts you attack.
All was fine until the FFA slipped Etihad Stadium into the bid. The rest is smoke and mirrors but that part is real.
Redb
December 9th 2009 @ 9:24am
Pippinu said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Posts like this make feel quite glad that the AFL has told FIFA to pi$$ off.
December 9th 2009 @ 9:27am
The Bear said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Painting FIFA to be the bad guy in all this?
December 9th 2009 @ 2:31pm
Michael C said | December 9th 2009 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
when there’s mutliple stakeholders involved in a negotiation,
the one’s least willing to make a compromise generally do become the ‘bad guy’,
especially if their starting position legally and on the ground is weak and their desired position is super strong,
thus far, all the compromise and flex has been on the side of AFL/NRL………it’s now up to the FFA and FIFA to NOT be seen as the ‘bad guy’.
How can it possibly be otherwise??
December 9th 2009 @ 9:34am
Michael C said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
keeper11 -
there’s been no positive talk of ‘compensation’. Kate Ellis had a chance and simply suggested stadium upgrades……but, in the main, without the WC, the AFL would still see stadium upgrades in Perth and Adelaide for example where there are compelling business models.
It comes down to business presently – around Docklands stadium. The AFL aren’t trying to block the FIFA WC. Don’t be silly. All this attempting to thwart etc – - that’s crazy talk.
If the AFL keeping Docklands derails the bid…..then it’s a crap bid.
If $150 mill can’t be found to upgrade the brand new Swan St stadium and free up Docklands…..then, it ain’t the AFL’s fault.
December 9th 2009 @ 9:19am
The Bear said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Well ssaid Davidde.
Yeah, get yer Sh1T together, Melbourne! In a lot of ways, perhaps we are not worthy to host it. I can see the merit in this perspective. For what is best for the game, better off giving it to China in 2026. It will be more in our time zone than Qatar (lol, wot a joke), so that’s all good…
December 9th 2009 @ 9:25am
Pippinu said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Bear
why do you think China pulled out?
2018 and 2022 was a done deal a long time ago.
December 9th 2009 @ 9:29am
The Bear said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Well then FFA must be doing the bid to gain exposure for Australian Football in the World scene. 50 mill well worth spending, especially if it flushes out the devils in those details.
December 9th 2009 @ 9:32am
Gweeds said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
As an Carlton and Melbourne Victory fan I agree with Davidde.
However we have to separate ‘us’ ie. the sport fans that revel in being able to enjoy two codes all year round and the AFL and the FFA that are two organisations competing for a ‘market’ of fans, TV exposure, sponsors etc.
I see it more like Clive Peeters and Harvey Norman. Customers may buy stuff from both but these stores have only one market to compete.
December 9th 2009 @ 9:34am
dasilva said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
The list of stadium have to be submitted by 12 December or Australia be eliminated from the world cup bid causing international embarrassment and perhaps ruining Australia football credibility to the international stage and perhaps damaging further world cup bids.
I’m thinking right now that FFA are begging with the Federal and state government in giving the cash to upgrade the rectangular stadium. Let’s hope they pull it off.
It all seems like a student cramming in the last minute to get the job done by the due date here.
December 9th 2009 @ 9:39am
Michael C said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Das –
incorrect – the actual stadium list has to be forwarded in May.
What has to come in now in December is a commitment to fund what is required…basically state and fed govts signing a blank cheque relative to whatever economic conditions may be prevalent around 2019-2021 ( a bit of crystal ball gazing!!!!).
And, apparently, the FIFA process is only to provide exemptions for other competitions once they announce the winning bid.
But yes – you’ve got to wonder about it there’s this commitment ready to go, then, the $150 mill for the rectangle stadium would be ‘no worries’,
if it’s NOT????, then, apparently the whole bid might be in jeopardy,
and if that’s the case – it all comes back to the incompetant Vic Govt and FFA agreeing to put this fancy ruddy roof on top!!
pathetic really. You just gotta wonder what fools are running this bid – because, sure as heck, Ben Buckley is too smart a man to be pushing this.