By apaway -
December 12th 2009 @ 1:37am
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Demetriou ridiculed for the good of his sport
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou addresses the media during an AFL Media Conference at AFL House, Melbourne. Slattery Images
I was in Melbourne this week when AFL chief Andrew Demetriou launched his anti-World Cup campaign to the astonishment of most. I suspect had I been in London, or Barcelona, or Istanbul, or Rio or Buenos Aires, I wouldn’t have heard about it at all.
I think Demetriou may well come to appreciate this, because less of the world will think him the fool he now looks. Or is he actually strategising brilliantly on behalf of his sport?
Demetriou has overseen great success in the AFL during his six years as CEO of the league.
He was the driving force behind the AFL’s massive $780 million dollar TV rights deal in 2005. The competition is set to expand into Western Sydney and the Gold Coast, and seems likely to do so without losing any of its Melbourne “heartland” clubs.
All indications are that Andrew Demetriou is a brilliant administrator.
Until this week.
His comments and fear-mongering rhetoric about Australia’s World Cup bid, his assertion that the AFL would have to cancel the 2018 season, his “hands off Etihad” edict make him look like the stupidest sports administrator of all time – and that takes some doing.
If Australia were suuccessful in their 2018 bid, the AFL would have 9 YEARS to come up with a strategy for playing away from the two big Melbourne venues during the period they were required for World Cup preparation and matches.
Futhermore, Demetriou’s comments look to have endeared him to no-one, not even AFL fans, judging from the response in Melbourne alone.
It is often said that Melbourne is Australia’s sporting capital, and that the city’s sport lovers will turn up to watch just about anything.
Can you imagine them tolerating the country hosting a World Cup and missing out on seeing some of it in their own back yard?
Worse, could Demetriou envisage the backlash against him personally if his stance and comments did the unthinkable, and torpedoed the country’s bid for the biggest sporting event in the world?
The TV rights for the event would make his 2005 coup look like a bad waiter’s tip jar on a slow night.
The revenue generated by tourism alone would be enormous and already has the Federal Government salivating – did Kevin Rudd perhaps choke on that saliva as he read Demetriou’s diatribe?
I can only think that Demetriou has launched the first salvo in a massive compensation strategy he hopes to secure for the AFL if they are forced to move matches away from the MCG and Etihad Stadium.
By presenting the worst case scenario of season cancellation (yeah, right, like that would ever happen), perhaps he is angling to squeeze a large chunk of revenue from whoever will listen – be it FIFA, the FFA or Canberra.
He surely couldn’t possibly believe that the AFL should have some advanced importance over the World Cup?
Apologies to AFL fans but let’s get real for a moment – an event that will be watched in over 200 countries by a collective audience of over 14 billion is not going to be held hostage by a cranky guy running a competition largely unknown outside these shores.
Demetriou must have a deeper, money-driven agenda in mind, and if so AFL fans should applaud him for having the guts to make himself a figure of ridicule and loathing for the good of his sport.
If he doesn’t, they should clamour immediately for his resignation and entry into a mental health facility. And by the way, much as I would love to see it, I don’t think FIFA will keep the World Cup from Europe for 16 years, which means Australia’s best hope is securing the 2022 event.
Maybe the extra four years will give Andrew Demetriou the time he needs to figure out alternate venues.
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Kurt said | December 12th 2009 @ 1:54am | Report comment
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
BN said | December 12th 2009 @ 2:02am | Report comment
14 billion viewers ??????
Like Kurt Said- ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Mr cheese said | December 12th 2009 @ 4:22am | Report comment
Absolutely right.
It is officially accepted that viewing figures for the fussball are MASSIVELY exaggerated.
The last World Cup Final was probably watched by around 250 million, not 1 billion as FIFA used to say.
It’s in their interest to inflate this stuff, no ?
Not in a million years will 14 billion watch a World Cup.
Gatto Nero said | December 12th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Not to mention that there are only 7 billion on the planet.
BigAl said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
Maybe they’re factoring in the significant portion of the populous that has four eyes ?
amused said | December 12th 2009 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
no, it’s actually 2999 billion, and as proponents of the bid will also offer, it will bring 100000 ( best Dr Evil voice ) billion dollars to the australian economy.
200 billion tourists will visit australia during the cup, consuming 100 billion beers, 300 billion meat pies and will use 400 billion condoms.
you have to think big!
Goosey said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
The article clearly states a collective audience of 14 billion.
There are 60 matches in a World Cup. That averages at about 233million viewers per match. It is an easily achievable figure.
The 2022 WC in Australia is in a good time zone for half the world population in Asia who are soccer crazy. If in the next 13 years China and India get there act together and were to qualify 14billion total views could be easily surpassed, as they would have a minimum of 8 games that would average massive unprecedented viewing figures.
Tifosi said | December 12th 2009 @ 4:37am | Report comment
The bully got bullied and he didnt like it. Pretty funny actually.
Demetriou’s stunt at the end of the day will mean little. As long as the Federal/state govts support this bid, he cant really do much.
But Yeah i think this is played out. Im sure in May 2010 more will be said.
Punter said | December 12th 2009 @ 6:05am | Report comment
Had you been in Sydney Apaway, you had some minor news on it, but nothing no-one worried about.
football said | December 12th 2009 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Actually
The WC audience results are independantly commissioned & reported by an international agency not by FIFA.
Get your facts right.
Mr cheese said | December 12th 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
Are you sure about that ?
Listen to how many people FIFA think watched the World Cup Finals in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
It is accepted by most that FIFA have been, er, generous in their calculation.
You have to be realistic. The idea that 1 billion people watched the last Final is simply silly.
FIFA need the sponsors to believe that the thing is seen by billions, don’t they ?!?!?!?!?
Luke W said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Well of course 1 billion is a pure estimate, there is no possible way of measuring it. Some independent study probably figured out something like between 750 million and 1 billion people watched the last WC final. What administrative body wouldn’t want to proclaim from the top of that range?
John Ryan said | December 12th 2009 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
And of course Mr Cheese if it was the Rugby Union world cup and they said over a billion watched it,we would not hear a peep out of you
Dave1 said | December 12th 2009 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
1 billion people didnt watch the rugby world cup
Mr cheese said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:39pm | Report comment
Hold on.
You misunderstand me.
I like Rugby Union, yes. But my number one sport is football. This is not a case of mocking football. I really like the football World Cup and always have. I watch it much more than I watch the football world cup.
So you’ve got this one wrong.
I like the football World Cup a lot. I just don’t think people should believe any old numbers.
12 billion ?
20 billion ?
66 billion ?
Mr cheese said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:50pm | Report comment
“I watch the football World Cup much more than the Rugby World Cup”
That’s what it was meant to say.
My apologies.
Dave1 said | December 13th 2009 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
I dont believe any of those figures
Daniel King said | December 15th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
It’s not silly at all, this is the world game, the world loves it. You might not but the world does. 1 billion is totally realistic.
ren said | December 12th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
sort of irrelevant if the figure quoted is 14 billion- any half decent journalist would realise the impossibility of this. hence for me this article carries no weight, even more so given the article was overly one sided as it only questioned AD sanity whilst skimming over the cause for his concern- FFA’s inability to collaborate with the other codes.
Mr cheese said | December 12th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
14 billion is not impossible if we’re talking cumulative figures.
Still, it is very very very unlikely.
Jeb said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Mr Cheese – do the maths mate: 233million per game. Why is it unlikely? Because you don’t think soccer deserves such an audience?
Dave1 said | December 12th 2009 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
in what way does a sport deserve an audience?
Jeb said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
Dave1:
i don’t think a sport deserves an audience. others might, hence the question mark.
there’s nothing like personal taste, or sitcom quotes, to prove facts wrong.
ren said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
ok- i didn’t realise it was cumulative. though i still believe this article lacked balance- there was a good article in the west australian, also online
Dave1 said | December 12th 2009 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
it doesn’t matter if it cumulative or not 14 billon people have never watched anything. It is an exaggeration but won that is a cliché and on its way out. These sort of statements are regularly mocked nowadays
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26354504-5018878,00.html
“……Would you believe he lobbed again? The same drivel. Magnificent tournament, wonderful man, boon for Melbourne, rolling in riches, 500 billion people watched the event…….”
this ones a classic from 2 and half men
http://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/shows/two-and-a-half-men/page_14.html
Jake: Can we watch the soccer game instead of basketball?
Charlie: What are you, nuts?
Jake: Sophie said soccer is the most popular game in the world.
Charlie: Well, then they don’t need us to watch it.
Luke W said | December 12th 2009 @ 7:25am | Report comment
The FFA should just ignore the AFL and NRL and go ahead with the bid. With all Government’s backing the bid they are powerless. Don’t worry about a backlash from fans, all the polls this week in the major newspapers show that the majority of Australians will support the World Cup even if it disrupts the other codes.
Josh said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Is the Dalai Lama bald? Just like Belgian Stilt-fighting, the AFL+NRL are not members of FIFA, therefore all the posturing and threats coming from south-east Australia amount to nil. Likewise did these same bodies have any major sway with the IOC? None, zip, nil. All their hyperventilating goes to show how adverse they are to competition, they already know they have precious little influence on the WC bid and it’s this that is driving them farther into madness.
Andy, Andy, Andy .. the longer your feigned resistance continues, the more embarrassing the AFL appears, keep up the snoozefest by all means..
Yes, believe it or not stilt-jostling is the most popular national sport in Belgium..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MbCJ3N18lw
Dave1 said | December 12th 2009 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
it looks like what the AFL says is important to fifa
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/beware-the-silent-assassins-at-fifa-headquarters/story-fn4l4ski-1225809548029
“.Beware the silent assassins at FIFA headquarters
WATCH out Australia, Big Brother is watching you. Very closely.
Amid all the controversy stoked by AFL chief Andrew Demetriou’s outrageous claims this week that the AFL could be forced to close down its season and the resultant barney over schedules and venues if Australia wins the bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup finals, it has been strangely silent in Zurich.
Most will know Zurich as the cultural and commercial centre of Switzerland, and the sixth-most-expensive city in Europe.
To followers of the world game, soccer, it is the home of FIFA, the sports world governing body — possibly the most powerful sporting body in the world.
When it comes to football, there is nothing that escapes the scrutiny and attention of FIFA.
Yes, the sounds of silence might be deafening, but rest assured the eyes and ears of the sport’s powerbrokers are finely tuned to the events of this week, even if attempts by The Weekend Australian to garner reaction to the war of words and to gauge what sort of damage it may be causing have gone unanswered……..”
sambobly said | December 12th 2009 @ 8:23am | Report comment
The AFL and NRL are not powerless. They have the rights to (some of) the stadiums for that time period and therefore, in effect, own or have leased them. This leaves them in a position of great power. The FFA will need to buy the rights from the sporting bodies and if they refuse to sell then this is tough titties for the FFA. If the government tries to step in and force the sale there will (probably) be a massive public backlash against the hosting of the World Cup. Finally, all this activity will probably dissuade FIFA from awarding the world cup to Australia in the first place.
Frankly, I think this is a brilliant strategic move from Demetriou.
Luke W said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
There will not be a public backlash against the World Cup. There will be some backlash from hardcore supporters of the NRL and AFL, but a society-wide backlash? No way.
Luke W said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
The NRL/AFL and its clubs own none of the stadiums they use. They are all owned by the Government or a private entity. Sure, the AFL/NRL have long-term leases to these grounds, but that gives them little to no legitimate power because ultimately the Government owns the grounds and those leases can be overruled. The only real power the AFL/NRL holds is changing public opinion of FIFA/FFA/WC and they have done well so far. Like you said, it’s a brilliant strategic move from Demetriou. He knows that if the bid was successful, he would have little power with all Governments backing it, but turn AFL fans against FIFA/FFA/WC and you can stop the bid in its tracks.
Timmypig said | December 13th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Actually Luke I am 99% sure that the Sharks own Endeavour Field …. but otherwise your point is well made. Still dangerous ground for a government to tread if it starts ripping up leases.
Jeb said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:45am | Report comment
sambobly: you said that “there will (probably) by a massive public backlash against the hosting of the world cup”. I think your basing this assumption on your delusion. The polls showed that people want the wc here no matter what.
sambobly said | December 12th 2009 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
No, I based this assumption on the idea that the Australian public would not like to see the government step in and brow beat two of the nations sports in favour of another. If this was done, it would smack of bully boy tactics.
Another point is that the posturing of Demetriou and other sporting directors will have FIFA thinking twice about awarding the World Cup to Australia in the first place. There are other, better financed candidates than Australia for this bid (example = Russia). This means that if the bid loses public support (or even the overwhelming majority of support) then FIFA will not award us the World Cup. Australia is not big enough to get given the cup in the hopes of developing football/soccer support (unlike the 1994 US world cup).
Jeb said | December 12th 2009 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
right, so you’re basing your assumption on what YOU think the australian public would not like to see, despite what they are saying themselves.
Look, no unbiased person, wants to see the nrl or afl damaged in an unfair manner and that wouldn’t happen. But the wc is too important for us not to do all it takes.
Dave1 said | December 12th 2009 @ 4:10pm | Report comment
the wc not so important that we should be damaging the AFL or the NRL
John Ryan said | December 12th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
Gee Mate what do you think Demetriou does all the time,I hope he holds his Breath till his face turns blue,he and the AFL are specials at being bullies
AndyRoo said | December 12th 2009 @ 5:51pm | Report comment
sambobly
I doubt the NRL has the 2018 or 2022 rights to any of the stadiums that will be used for the world cup. Perhaps Newcastle does?
The deals the AFL has done with the MCG or Docklands are not the norm for Australian sport.
Forgetmenot said | December 12th 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
If you had been in any of the places bidding for the soccer world cup you would have heard about it.
It was in both US, and English news.
Dave1 said | December 12th 2009 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
It made the news in India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Australias-FIFA-World-Cup-dream-runs-into-rough-weather/articleshow/5318993.cms
Gatto Nero said | December 12th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Another poor article written from a pro-soccer point of view. I’m tired of reading that there’s something intrinsically wrong with a sport if it isn’t popular in Istanbul or Buenos Aires. So many sports are valued mostly in their country of origin, and not just gridiron and Gaelic football – bullfighting, takraw and our very special game of Australian football. It’s time to wake up to the fact that many Australians enjoy it – more so than any other sport in our sunburnt country.
This issue is done, let it lie.
Luke W said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Another poor comment from an anti-football point of view. The biggest myth being perpetuated through all of these articles is that football isn’t popular in Australia, with the only piece of evidence being small A-League crowds. The A-League makes up a miniscule percent of football available to Australians to watch, enjoy and support. There are hundreds of thousands of Australians who support football but don’t necessarily support the A-League. They support the Socceroos, an EPL team, or one of the thousands of teams/leagues around the world. These people are probably fans of the NRL/AFL/Union as well, but I’m sure the vast majority would love to see a World Cup in Australia. Don’t underestimate football’s popularity in Australia.
B.C. said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
It is called SOCCER, if you dont like it being called SOCCER, you had best come up with another nickname for the SOCCEROOS.
KB said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
BC,
try “The Australian National Football Team” I have been calling our national Football team that since the newly formed “Football Federation of Austrlia” was formed 6 years ago… Get up to speed…
Springs said | December 12th 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
Didn’t realise that was a nickname. The Austalian socceroos or the Australian ‘Australian National Football Team’roos.
KB said | December 12th 2009 @ 6:26pm | Report comment
I don’t like nick names.. the late Johnny Warren said he was not fond of the nick name Socceroos, he preferred just the Australian Football Team … If we must have a nick name then maybe just Roos
Daniel King said | December 15th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Call it what you like, it’s still the biggest sport in the world. Soccer, football, Wogball… doesn’t change any facts.
Gatto Nero said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Bulldust. Nobody of note has insinuated that soccer isn’t popular in Australia. Many object to the impression being put forth by the soccer community that it is the most popular sport in the country, or is on a trajectory to that end. One British journalist who toured Etihad with the FFA last month even reported being informed by soccer administrators that their code was the most popular in Australia – a statement that he rightly found hard to believe.
Dave1 said | December 12th 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Gatto Nero, heres a good article
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/zealotry-undermines-support-for-cup-bid-20091211-kolw.html
“Zealotry undermines support for Cup bid….
……….However, this week, a small but vocal minority showed how the overwhelming goodwill the World Cup bid had created could be jeopardised – and, in turn, the long-term benefits it would have for the game.
We are not talking about AFL boss Andrew Demetriou whose posturing about the inconvenience the World Cup could create was as blunt and predictable as the latest Tiger Woods joke. Demetriou’s dire warning that the AFL season could be cancelled if the MCG was out of action for four months was merely the hyperbolic rhetoric you can expect for a man paid more than $1m per-year to look after the best interests of his code. And who has done so spectacularly well…….
……….No, those with a far greater capacity to erode the universal support for the World Cup bid are the ones who cherish the idea most – the soccer zealots who, after years living in the shadow of the native codes, have been emboldened by their powerful new political allies……”
Gatto Nero said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
Great article, Dave. I love Australian football, and my objections regarding Australia hosting a World Cup are rooted in the economics of the bid – they appear unsound from what I have read and I believe that the $2-8 billion could be better spent on a host of more necessary infrastructure projects across Australia.
However, as this debate has raged on, I find it more and more distasteful that the soccer zealots within the Australian community use the debate as a means of denigrating the followers of rival sports. I love footy, but I live in a city where ice hockey and gridiron are the #1 sports. I would be loathe to tell my coworkers and friends that the sports they love are provincial and unsophisticated because they aren’t followed internationally. Instead, I respect their passions and, in turn, they have been wholly supportive as we’ve watched Geelong win a couple of premierships in recent years. It’s a pity that a fringe group of Australians lack the same degree of tolerance.
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Well said.
MV Dave said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
“Australia hosting a World Cup are rooted in the economics of the bid – they appear unsound from what I have read and I believe that the $2-8 billion could be better spent on a host of more necessary infrastructure projects across Australia.”
Err like building new AFL grounds in Sydenee and Gold Coast and err “community” AFL facilities at all the old AFL grounds?
” I find it more and more distasteful that the soccer zealots within the Australian community use the debate as a means of denigrating the followers of rival sports”
Not as distasteful perhaps as AFL zealots denigrating the game of football (and those who play it) for being foreign? You know mate UnAustralian! We can summarise by using the following well coined phrase – Sheilas Wogs and Poofters
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
Richard Hind’s article is spot on.
Your burning hatred of the AFL is going to kill the bid just like it drove Frank Lowy to be over zealous with his stadium demands.
MV Dave said | December 14th 2009 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
“burning hatred of the AFL” Explain? l thought putting an alternative point of view and showing up incorrect or spurious arguments was still allowed on this site?
Dave1 said | December 15th 2009 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
the economics of the bid are that not since 1962 (the last time a country with a population as small as Australia’s has hosted the soccer world cup) have so few tax payers been burdened with so much.
Michael C said | December 15th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
nice angle.
Personally, we should get through this whole emissions issue first and wait see whether international air travel get’s emissions foot print priced out of affordability…
Anthony said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Thank you, Mr Demetriou for defending our football. I am an AFL club member & have no intention of going to soccer’s WC if by some chance Australia gets it. Altho it’s going to be impossible for an ordinary Australian to actually get a seat anyway. I fully expect to attend AFL games if the WC is on, & for that AFL will need one of the big Melbourne stadiums. FFA is arrogant in expecting AFL/NRL to just suspend the competition for 4-8 weeks & FIFA is just ignorant of Australia’s sporting culture. What a shame that the most popular football in Australia is played on an oval field!!! No doubt this is a point for ridiciule from soccer fans – which is the level of their argument. Thanks Demetriou for doing your job, & not being intimidated by soccer.
John said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
The majority of the articles written about this topic seem to be written by an author who is favouring soccer. They all share a common thought that it should be the AFL’s job to just let the soccer authorities do what they want and then find a way of still playing their season. If the FFA is so keen to have the World Cup here, and there is at least 9 years until that may happen, then why can’t they come up with with a way to accommodate other codes.
The AFL season obviously isn’t going to be cancelled, but the AFL and World Cup are businesses, and to let a rival simply come in and run the show for 8 weeks is never going to happen.
Another thing I have noticed is the commonality of the non-unique viewer tally being quoted in order to belittle the significance of the AFL season. I don’t know if it’s just for the finals or the whole campaign, but I would imagine it is just the same people watching as many games as they can.
cdinoz said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
For the purpose of counting the “collective” audience of the World Cup – the stats are calculated based on viewing figures COMBINED for each TV slot – ie they add up the viewing figures for each individual game. This is where they get their “billions” of viewing figures.
westy said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Luke w . I hold a number of leasehold interests and i can assure you they are a valuble commercial asset . they grant me exclusive possession and the ability to sublease . All that is going on is a negotiation for compensation. It is simply business.
If Frank was asked to close down his Westfields stores for a few months in the national interest do you seriously think he would not seek compensation. The federal government may then say we will build you a new store in return but he still might want some short term cash flow compensation. It is simply a businness negotiation.
By the way most graziers west of the divide operate on leasehold interests that they value in the millions as do the “home “owners of the ACT . they are far from worthless. it all depends on the location and use.
ren said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
great post, pastoral/mining leases are a good example to demonstrate ownership of the various sporting grounds in Australia, given they are for the most part built on government land leased (very long term, low cost) to the operators to maintain/develop/use as they see fit.
KB said | December 12th 2009 @ 11:19am | Report comment
Ren,
I picked out some vital information for you in bold type … I’m sure you will enjoy the read….
Australians urged to join the World Cup Bid
Sunday, 14 June 2009
The people of Australia are the “secret weapon” of Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup ™ according to the Chairman of Football Federation Australia (FFA), Frank Lowy.
“We believe this bid is realistic and it’s achievable,” he told an audience of politicians, media, past, present and aspiring Socceroos and FFA partners.
Mr Lowy said that hosting the FIFA World Cup™ would be good for football, but also good for Australia.
“Hosting the World Cup would provide Australia with an unparalleled opportunity and give Australia a lasting and living legacy for generations to come.
“On the world stage, there is no event with the same level of global appeal or audience reach as the FIFA World Cup™.”
Mr Lowy said that the cumulative global television audience in 2006 was 26.2 billion with the single largest audience group coming from the Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is a member.
“Asia is on the rise economically, in terms of goods and services and in football,” he said.
“Australia is part of the Asian Football Confederation and is in the Asian time zone.”
Mr Lowy said that Australia also has a proud record in hosting major events.
“Bidding for, and hosting, the FIFA World Cup™ is a natural corollary of our proud history in staging major events as a strategy to grow, develop and promote Australia as a nation.
“Events such as the 1956 and 2000 Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Indy 500, the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, the Australian Open, the FIFA World Youth Cup and World Youth Day have all added to Australia’s reputation and image as a nation, and as a serious and credible contender in major event hosting and management.”
But Mr Lowy said that Australia’s “secret weapon” is the Australian people, and Australia as a destination.
“People from all over the world want to visit our country.
“Thanks to the performance of the Qantas Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, as well as the many thousands of Australian fans who followed them, the rest of the world has a very positive view of us.”
Today’s launch unveiled a website for Australia’s bid at http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au which is a football-themed social networking site.
“We invite people from all over Australia and the world to join the bid by signing onto our website,” Mr Lowy said.
“Our aim is to show FIFA and the football world that we are passionate about football and welcoming the world.”
FFA also unveiled a promotional film which showcases Australia as a destination, as well as its football and event hosting credentials, encouraging the world to ‘Come Play!’.
The film showcases the Qantas Socceroos as well as a ball travelling around Australia visiting every state and territory showcasing cities, stadia, the outback, wineries and beaches with everyday Australians in a playful mood.
A surprise appearance in the promotional film involves Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
“We are delighted that the Prime Minister accepted our invitation to be in the promotional film as it emphasises to the international community that our bid is backed by the Government.
“This bid is for football, but it is also for Australia,” Mr Lowy said.
“We have many milestones between today and when the decision is made and we hope that all Australians can join this bid 100 per cent.”
FFA will be required to make a final presentation to FIFA, football’s world governing body, in December 2010 prior to a decision behind made.
“I have the personal commitment of our political leaders to this bid,” said Mr Lowy.
“We have the goodwill and support of other sporting codes around the country.
“And we now invite all Australians to enlist in what we hope will be an exciting and successful campaign to bring the greatest show on earth to the world’s greatest playground.”
Key Documents and Background Information
ren said | December 12th 2009 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
gee KB- that really responded to the point being made about lease agreements and tennant rights.
we all know soccer is colossal world wide, but this is hardly a reason to bend over backwards to accomodate them, lets say you have an absolutely stunning girlfriend/wife, prettiest girl ever. however you aren’t exactly the biggest bloke in the building, but within her immeadieate vicinity you are. Now along comes another bloke who simply put is bigger, wealthier and a host of other things than you are. he decides he takes a fancy to your girl. are you gonna just sstep aside and lose this hypothetically stunning girl walk off with this other bloke. Not if you have an balls or self respect, sure you might accomodate him, but your not going to let him get your girl are you.
if you didn’t pick it up- the girl is any decent football ground ie the mcg, you are the AFL, and the other bloke is soccer.
KB said | December 12th 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
Ren,
it really doesn’t matter if AD plays ball or not, both sides of the house of all Sate and Fed governments want this to happen for Australia and it will go ahead if the bid is successful i.e. a new 50k rectangle stadium for Melbourne if necessary or Melbourne will be shut out… So be it …
AD will then have to face the Football community of Melbourne that would be his big worry being the big bully in Melbourne…
ren said | December 12th 2009 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
dont you realise tis is what AD wants- he wants the AFL to have the usage of docklands, whilst allowing soccer to use the mcg for a maximum of 10 weeks and the second melbourne ground to be swan street. things got a bit out of control when AD let slip that the FFA had considered the option of modifying the MCG into a rectangular stadium (sheck out this thread for a picture http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=983768&page=6) this would mean the AFL would effectively be without it’s number one stadium for an entire season- not cool. Then it turns out that the FFA has been parading journalists around docklands and including it in bid brochures, once more- not cool. the AFL is trying to play ball and is offering the FFA it’s and australias premier stadium. IT’s the FFA that needs to start being more open- remember they’re the baby of all the codes in Australia (comercially not neccersarily participation)
KB said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Jut to bring a few of the anti-football bloggers up to date with a message from our CEO. FFA, Ben Buckley….
‘Come Play!’ – FFA signs on the dotted line
Friday, 11 December 2009
by FFA
Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben Buckley, confirmed on Friday that Australia has now formally submitted the Bidding Agreement to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022.
The deadline for submitting the Bidding Agreement is the end of today (Swiss time).
“The Bidding Agreement is a formal agreement between FIFA and FFA which commits us to submitting a technical compliant bid proposal in May next year,” Buckley said.
The formal bid proposal, or ‘Bid Book’ as it is known, provides comprehensive detail of Australia’s bid covering all facets of Australia’s bid including host cities, sustainable development, football development, environmental considerations, stadiums, team and other accommodation, transport, communications technology, the health system and other matters.
“The Bidding Agreement is another step in the journey as we invite the world to ‘come play’ in Australia in 2018 or 2022 .
“As a nation, sport has provided some of our most compelling and defining national memories.
“We believe this is a passion and commitment that can be shared with the world, and it would form part of a living and lasting legacy to the world from Australia,” Buckley said.
Buckley said that FFA has been encouraged by the positive feedback it is receiving on the bid from around the world, including after last week’s initial formal presentation in Cape Town of Australia’s credentials to the international football community.
“We are also fortunate to have the backing of all governments for our bid. We are continuing to work with them and the other sporting codes to ensure we can put forward the best possible bid on behalf of Australia.”
Buckley said the next major milestone in the journey to host the FIFA World Cup™ will occur on 14 May2010 in Zurich when the Bid Book is provided to FIFA.
The other bidders include England, Spain & Portugal, Netherlands & Belgium, Russia, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Qatar and the USA.
A decision on the successful hosts for 2018 and 2022 will be made by FIFA on 2 December 2010.
~~~~~~
KB
Chris M said | December 12th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Read this perfect summation of soccer as featured in the Age today (note that the paper is not the pro-AFL Herald Sun).
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer-fans-are-world-cups-worst-enemy-20091211-kop4.html
It hits the nail on the head on many levels.
Jeb said | December 12th 2009 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Chris M: Just so I know, on what levels does this article hit the nail on the head?
That soccer is the equivalent of Macdonalds? Surely it must be, seeing as they are both popular, right? And they aren’t that good, well not compared to the local stuff, right?
KB said | December 12th 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Who are you kidding “perfect summation” ..? Hinds is a five star general for the Football Saboteur resistance… A well known AFL Gurilla fighter in Sydney… Ha Ha…
Geoff said | December 12th 2009 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Just one example of the international attention this dispute is gaining :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8403383.stm
What I found most interesting in that article is this para :
“Although football is a summer sport down under, any World Cup in Australia would have to be scheduled in the southern hemisphere winter to avoid clashing with the European leagues.”
Doesn’t this just show soccer’s arrogance and rudeness – “We don’t want to interrupt our own domestic competitions, but we’re quite happy to play havoc with those of other codes.” Otherwise, the blindingly obvious compromise is that any World Cup here should be played around November, when the big stadiums are largely free of commitments.
Good on you, Andrew Demetriou – and keep the good fight going.
Jeb said | December 12th 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
Geoff,
the world cup has always and will always be played in the northern summer. Playing in November is not an option. Your comment would be valid if australia was the only available host. But if we want the world cup we’ll be the ones who have to compromise.
westy said | December 12th 2009 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
KB I support the world Cup bid because i think it is in the national interest.
Frank lowy does not speak on my behalf or represent me. . That does not mean he is a bad man. He speaks only for himself and the FFA.
As i have alluded to above Frank would seek compensation for his business if he was asked to close it in the national interest.
To confuse this issue is what i object to. Slight touch of reverse racism in some of the football posters. Gallop and Demetriou have every right to seek compensation for having the businesses they represent closed down. This is not communist China .
Part of the compensation is long term with better sporting facilities for all users but they also seek short term cash flow redress. It is all negotiable . there is nothing wrong with this position. Just making sure of positions at the table.
Buckley is a good negotiator and respective state and federal governments are onside . I think there is little to fear.
No one man or sport speaks for me . Such is life in the australia i love. I hope it long continues.
KB said | December 12th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
David Gallop and John O’Neill have taken a philosophical approach to this whole debate and I applaud them for it — no problem with them, but AD has taken a different fork in the road that is a different kettle of fish… Deliberately stirring the pot unnecessarily to keep his AFL expansion plans bubbling along on the front and back pages in the northern states… That’s OK we can counter with the same rhetoric…
John Ryan said | December 12th 2009 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
I hope they go ahead with turning the Football Stadium at Homebush into a rectangular stadium with a roof and leave it that way permanently,a 90,000 seat Rugby League and Football stadium would be nice.
Andrew Sutherland said | December 12th 2009 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
FIFA is the most powerful organisation of all the football codes because it has the most popular product. That’s why we should be wary of letting them in.
We welcomed McDonalds 40 years ago and our most popular food is now the Quarter Pounder with Cheese.
andrew said | December 12th 2009 @ 5:14pm | Report comment
FIFA is the most powerful sporting body of all the football codes because it has the most popular product. That’s why we should be wary of letting them in.
We welcomed McDonalds and now our most popular food is the Quarter Pounder with Cheese.
Dave1 said | December 13th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
looks like its the Angus burgers which are the most popular.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/11/03/127721_cattle.html
“….sales of the two “premium” burgers have “settled into a more typical pattern”, down from the highs of last month when The Weekly Times reported a 20 per cent increase in hamburger sales since the new products were launched.
McDonald’s Australia spokeswoman Amy Lawrence said the chain would not release any figures regarding consumption of the new products.
“Our Angus launch has been a success,” Ms Lawrence said.
“We had high expectations for the new burgers as they’d researched extremely well, however like any launch we expected a peak before sales settled into a more typical trading pattern, which they’re beginning to do…..”
jimbo said | December 12th 2009 @ 9:30pm | Report comment
“If you were in London you wouldn’t have read about the AFL’s anti-World Cup campaign . . . “
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/09/world-cup-2018
“More good news for England’s World Cup Bid . . . “ said the guardian on their back page.
You AFL people have really got no idea of what goes on in the rest of the world outside of Melbourne, the AFL Capital of Australia.
Redb said | December 12th 2009 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
you soccer people think Australia would be better off if only soccer was played. The crusades ended centuries ago.
KB said | December 13th 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
The Holy Crusade continues; writes Craig Foster… nice article in the SMH
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/other-codes-need-to-get-real-20091212-kpik.html
If Andrew Demetriou wants his seven pieces of silver—–give it to him and let the 2018 FIFA World Cup come to Australia; so Australia can be better off for it…
~~~~~~
KB
Dave1 said | December 13th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
That piece of silver comes from us tax payers. So if the NRL ( under the The NRL Displacement Strategy. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/soccers-plan-to-displace-nrl/story-e6frfgbo-1225808419104) and the AFL are forced to change the seasons, I have to pay for it through my taxes.
MyGeneration said | December 15th 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
“the world game is a rising tide that will ultimately engulf all before it”, “the football tsunami washes in from all around the country” – sounds like an unnatural disaster, KB. Foster is not helping your cause. And the Crusades never achieved their goals, so be careful of your analogies.
Daniel King said | December 15th 2009 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Redb
I have read your posts over ther past few days and would just like to say from a football lovers point of view that AFL is a great sport i love it, why do you feel threatened? Personally i think people will look back on the world cup and say that was awesome…. you included. AFL/NRL won’t die because people like you love it, great. After the world cup you will go back to barracking for your team, the tourist money will have made the economy richer and the world will keep turning.
Put your seat belt on brother cos it’s going to be a bumpy ride and trust me….. you will effing love it!
Michael C said | December 15th 2009 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
perhaps the most uncomfortable thing of all this…..if people thought that David Crawford’s panel might have had some background bias re the recent sports funding report…well, for this supposedly great national event, great for all the nation etc etc,
how come it’s being run by the FFA which apart from anything else is a minnow organisation reliant upon direct Govt cash injections into their bottom line for operational expenses.
Surely, surely this is sooooo big, that it should be organised beyond just the code of soccer……except FIFA wouldn’t deal then.
AndyRoo said | December 15th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Well we have this little bloke involved Kevin I think his name is, I don’t really rate him but a lot of other people do.
This Kevin chap has this bloke Ben running around doing the day to day stuff and some old Frank fella apparently they those two geezers have organised stuff in the past. One of them was second in command or something of a footy comp down south and the other bloke built some shops….. I don’t know doesn’t sound like great resumes to me but some people really rate Kevin, Ben and Frank.
Their is a sheila involved Kate or Kat not sure…but pretty sure she is just for looks anyway. Apparently the shed their putting this bid together in is pretty low key but from that humble shed they run 7 or so national teams pretty well so I guess they are doing all right.
I think the slouvaki shop owner down in Melbourne Andy D is pretty busy so unfortunately his expertise in organising international events can’t be used
Ziggy the God said | December 13th 2009 @ 8:14am | Report comment
Demetriou said what he said because he is angling for compensation and if he can hobble the bid then that is even better.
Lets not forget the champagne bottle opened each time the Socceroos missed out.
If the sport cannot handle an 8 week disruption once in 100 years, then all the bluster of being the number one game with full warchests is a load of crap.
Anthony said | December 13th 2009 @ 10:12am | Report comment
What an arrogant rant by Craig Foster – someone who only wants soccer to succeed. He grew up in NSW, did he not, & has probably never experienced an AFL game. So he is completely ignorant of why Australian Football attracts such passion & popularity. he has no credibility. Meanwhile the A-league attendance this weekend is averaging 6,000. It will take more than a world cup to get soccer on the map, no matter how many soccer mums drive their kids to a game!
The situation in the USA since their ‘94 world cup is salient. Soccer is still very popular with kids – but no-one attends MSL games in any gr8 number. American Football reigns supreme & not even soccer jerks would ridicule it like they do here about our code of football.
Tifosi said | December 13th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Craig foster is an idiot, he is on par with the other codes media fan boys. Pay no attention to him, he doesnt speak for us soccer fans.
As for the USA, MLS is steadily improving, but Americans want to see the best.
Read this article i did on the roar awhile back. Will explain soccer in the USA.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/08/17/usa-deals-blow-to-australias-world-cup-bid/
KB said | December 13th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
Tifosi,
Craig Foster may not speak for you soccer fans in Melbourne but he does speak for me a Football fan in Qld and NSW and all of his articles are confined to the SMH and SBS TWG unlike the Gorilla Hinds who refers to NSW soccer fans as soccer zealots and has them featured in the SMH Football segment … We in NSW and QLD regard Hinds as an AFL evangelist and an idiot and does not speak for us Football fans north of the Murray who continues his unwanted presence on the Football Forum of the SMH…
Lazza said | December 15th 2009 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Ever since I can remember ‘Soccer’ has been ridiculed by AFL and NRL journalists with some of the most hate filled and ignorant articles you can imagine. When a Football journalist comes out and responds then all of a sudden your feelings are hurt and you don’t like it. Can you imagine how Football fans have felt reading and hearing that kind of thing for the last 40 years?
Foster, like him or loath him, makes a valid point – the next generation of sports fans are going to be more ‘worldly’ in their outlook and interested in Football. Since most of you have only ever known one sport you naturally assume that means your favourite sport is going to die and you become very defensive about it. How about having the best of both worlds?
MV Dave said | December 15th 2009 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Spot on Lazza.
Dave1 said | December 13th 2009 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
The AFL and the NRL can handle an 8 week disruption once in 100 years. Just because they can handle it doesnt mean they should have too.
Tifosi said | December 13th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
JOURNALIST: The soccer bid, the World Cup soccer bid seems to have hit a few hurdles at the moment. Are you working to try to alleviate this so the bid won’t be hijacked, as it were?
KATE ELLIS: Absolutely. Can I say that we’ve said all along that winning a World Cup for Australia is a massive task, is a big challenge but it’s one that we are committed to getting right behind our Football Federation and delivering. And I have to say that if we are successful in winning a World Cup, wining the rights to host a World Cup in Australia, it will be of benefit not just to the world game but to the sporting community more broadly and to the Australian community more broadly.
For this reason, I’ve been working with both the Football Federation, but also with all of the state and territory governments and encouraging them to make sure that they are liaising and working in partnership with all of the other codes when they’re formalising the infrastructure list which will be put forward to FIFA next year.
JOURNALIST: Do you think the AFL was (inaudible)
KATE ELLIS: I think that we will work with the AFL, we will work with the NRL, we will work with the sporting community to mare sure that when this bid is delivered, it’s delivered in partnership with them.
And I have to say, I’ve just gotten back form South African last week for the World Cup drawer and one thing that it was absolutely struck by was the investment that they had made in sporting infrastructure, in new stadia, in new roads, in new airports. For anyone to suggest that the only people that would benefit from a World Cup is the football community are being very short-sighted because the sporting community more broadly would be massive winners out of this, as I believe would the Australian community. Which is the reason why I think we’re so committed to it, and we’ve put $45 million behind it and we’re determined to do everything we can to bring the World Cup to Australia.
JOURNALIST: Are you confident the difficulties can be worked through, the bid can be ours?
KATE ELLIS: Absolutely. I’m confident we will work in partnership with all of the Australian sports that are affected to make sure we put in a cooperative bid and one that can deliver the maximum benefit to all Australian and all Australian sports.
JULIA GILLARD: Thank you very much.
Kurt said | December 13th 2009 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
The deputy PM was interviewing the sports minister? I’m confused.
Gary said | December 13th 2009 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
I’m not really a soccer fan but there is no doubt about the long term positive impact the World Cup is having in South Africa. Having been to South Africa with the Wallabies last year I was impressed by the amount of infrastructure being built for the Football World Cup. In Jo’berg alone a magnificent completely new stadium and and renovation of Ellis (Coca Cola) Park. New airport terminals, roads etc.
In Perth, it would finally force our anti sport wowser Premier to build the long awaited stadia.
Dave1 said | December 13th 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
The tax payers of Perth, need new Stadiums?
Michael C said | December 13th 2009 @ 7:51pm | Report comment
RSA has got at least 2 white elephant stadiums, including the Green Point one in CapeTown.
btw – who gives a stuff about global audiences……..that’s broadcast rights and stadium advertising…….that’s all FIFA revenue,….
y’know, how they get 90% of all their revenue from running the FIFA WC in whatever nation is willing to let them wander in and take over.
Daniel King said | December 15th 2009 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Yeah but the tourist $$$$ is all yours and there will be a lot of $$$$$$.
Lazza said | December 15th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
FIFA get the majority of their money from the Global TV rights – close to $4 Billion US for a 4 week tournament. Having the WC in Australia doesn’t really do them any favours with our small market and time zone. They do it because they are and have always been interested in spreading the game. If other sports had the same foresight they wouldn’t be so far behind Football in popularity.
The reason that TV viewing figures are always an estimate is because they cannot measure ‘out of home’ viewing. If 100k people are watching on a few big screens then how do you measure that accurately? If a whole village in Africa is watching on one TV how do you measure? The viewing figures are probably underestimated not the other way round.
SideShowBob said | December 26th 2009 @ 6:57am | Report comment
And to the put the cherry on the cake:
Jeremy Clarkson begins his column in London’s Sunday Times: ”Over the years, I have argued that [soccer] is a stupid game in which 22 overpaid nancy boys with idiotic hair run around a field attempting to kick an inflated sheep’s pancreas into some netting while an audience of several thousand van drivers beat one another over the head with bottles and chairs.”
Long live Australian Football!
Daniel King said | December 27th 2009 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Yeah but Clarkson is a fat, obnoxious, objectionable twat that knows little about anything other than masturbating over the latest BMW. Plus, he has nothing better to do than write about sports he doesn’t understand….. seem familiar SideShowBob?
Long live World Football AKA God’s Game.
P.S. Just to let you know i do love AFL too and league and Union……. it us allowed to like or appreciate other sports
Al said | December 27th 2009 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
I’m sure had Clarkson been Australian he would be saying the exact same thing about aussie rules. I am not surprised that someone enamoured with cars and motorsports can’t grasp the appeal that team ball sports present to so many.
AndyRoo said | December 27th 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
To be fair to Clarkson that wasn’t just a random aside.
I doubt Sideshow even read the article and instead is just regurgitating what Peter fitzsimons tells him to say.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/jeremy_clarkson/article5949802.ece
ends with So there we are, then. I am now a football fan.
SideShowBob said | December 27th 2009 @ 6:49pm | Report comment
Good call AndyRoo. PF and I are chums from way back.
Daniel King, the Allsvenskan rocks all over HAL in all departments, and even then despite the improvement in standard, I have no passing interest in it.
Unlike Ice-Hockey…
Michael C said | January 11th 2010 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
I love the line
“In short, I have a team, and that’s what’s always been missing. Because I was born in Doncaster.”
poor bugger never had a chance!!!
but – like for so many who never got into certain sports as youth whilst playing – - if they rely on the tele……they’ll miss the point.