Herald Sun reports FIFA poses threat to Melbourne’s freedom
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By Art Sapphire, 14 Dec 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- FIFA, football, Herald Sun, Melbourne, world cup bid
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In what must go down as one of the most outrageous pieces of anti-World Cup hysteria ever seen in the mainstream media, Herald Sun readers awoke to discover that the city of Melbourne was to be taken over by a threat greater than the Martians.
Yes, FIFA, the omnipotent alien organisation will order that “all Melbourne bars would be granted late-night opening in a push by global soccer chiefs to seize control of our city if Australia hosts the World Cup”.
Is the Herald Sun implying, that we Australians, unlike most Western civilisations have trouble holding our drink and as a result, this FIFA edict could leave us disturbingly legless.
This demand plus many other “onerous” conditions as reported by the paper can be found in FIFA’s World Cup Host City Agreement.
According to the Herald Sun, the very fabric of Melbourne is under threat because during the hosting of the World Cup Melbourne will:
“Lose any road or restrict public access to roads at any time during the event.”
“Devote special traffic lanes and provide police escorts for FIFA officials, teams and VIP guests.”
“Keep airports open later into the night and open them early in the morning.”
“Give special treatment to preferred commercial partners, potentially costing locals work.”
And alarmingly, “Turn the city into a cultural desert by banning substantial cultural events – such as music concerts – on the days before or after matches.”
FIFA, just like the IOC, would have similar conditions in place to ensure their tournament runs smoothly and to also deliver on their commercial agreements. The recent spat the AFL had over the naming of Etihad Stadium being a very recent example.
But, this outrageously over the top piece can only be seen as yet another tiresome World Cup fear mongering by the unofficial propaganda arm of the AFL.
Will it ever end?
Well, sadly if you live in Melbourne, the answer is: No!
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Brett McKay said | December 14th 2009 @ 7:25am | Report comment
is there a smiley for slapping the forehead and shaking the head in bemusement??
Well played Herald Sun, well played…
Bay35Pablo said | December 14th 2009 @ 7:37am | Report comment
My God!! The World Cup is just like the Olypmics!!! And just look how that devastated Sydney …. oh, hang on ….
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment
….seriously though, Sydney post the Olympics has become the worst performing domestic tourism market and the state of NSW has become effectively the basketcase of the nation.
It’s not all rosey,
gotta be careful what you give away just for a ‘party’,……a big fireworks display and boats on the harbour is one thing (NYE 1999),…….
Punter said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
My sport is better than yours & my city is better than yours.
When will you move away from these sort of arguments.
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 3:15pm | Report comment
mate –
is it only outside of NSW that it’s reported that NSW is flat broke and has been the worst performing tourism market in Australia???
not sure how you see that as my city vs yours…..I didn’t put up any single city for comparison………..don’t need to!!!
It is simply a warning that there’s no guarrantees of riches…….other than the broadcast rights and stadium signage…………and FIFA controls those.
But, by golly………didn’t the folk of NSW and Sydney get 10 years of feeling good about themselves.
Mushi said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Agree with Michael C –Sydney got about as much value for money spent on the Olympics as those councils that bought CDOs.
The whole Stadium Australia thing worked out amazingly well….
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Sorry guys, I missed a line when I quickly put this piece together last night. I meant to say that the AFL’s recent spat over the naming of Etihad Stadium was a recent example of a major sporting organisation trying to protect the interests of it commercial partners.
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:16am | Report comment
Art,
A newspaper using sensationalism to sell papers who would have thought?
I have no problem with the major event issues around roads, special access ,etc that’s all pretty normal,. Some of the drink laws are bit unusual and the request re advertising odd.
However, you did not include the most contentious of FIFA’s ‘little’ demands – “TONE down promotion of the Melbourne Cup, AFL Grand Final, F1 Grand Prix or other major sporting events in the year leading up to the soccer carnival”. Why?
We are constantly told the WC is the biggest event, dwarfs all others, not afraid of anything, ignores everyone, why need this then?
We are not South Africa in need of dramatic social glue.
We are not a soccer only nation, we have other major sports.
Redb
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
redb – I did not include it because those exact demands are not actually included in the Host City agreement. If you can find where the AFL Grand Final is mentioned or the F1 Grand Prix, then please enligten us. I did Fiona a favour by not showing the embarrasing use of CAPITAL LETTERS in the piece as can be seen if you click on the link.
According to the Herald Sun, the WC is a greater threat than the Yellow Peril and Domino Theory combined.
Why is it then that only in Melbourne are we being subjected to this nonsense when the whole country is supposedly under threat from this FIFA contagion? Or does it need to be spelt out to you in Herald Sun CAPITAL LETTERS?
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:47am | Report comment
Art,
So there is no mention of any major event promotion in the FIFA requirements?
The exact same article is in the Daily Telegraph in Sydney. You need to open your eyes beyond Melbourne.
Nothing is more serious that the Yellow Peril, I think its located in the Arts precinct in South Melb these days near to the propsoed HQ of the joint FIFA and Diving Institute.
Redb
AndyRoo said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
I have never hear of the “tone down clause” and what affect would the Alcohol laws actually have?
What a beat up.
Edit: Art this article is in the DT as well.
Chuq said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
What the HS said: “TONE down promotion of the Melbourne Cup, AFL Grand Final, F1 Grand Prix or other major sporting events in the year leading up to the soccer carnival;”
What FIFA really said: “The host city shall ensure that it shall not devote greater resources to the promotion of another major sporting event staged in the Host City in the year prior to the Competition Period than it does to the promotion of the Competitions; ”
Does anyone seriously believe that any toning down will be required for this to happen? The WC is going to get the majority share of the cities promotional activity, whether or not it is a clause in the contract or not!!
KB said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:37am | Report comment
Art,
Thank God we have Football people like you who live in Melbourne, who will not stand for this rubbish to go unchallenged… To all the Melb Vic and the ‘real Football Supporters’ who can see the bigger picture, keep the faith and refute all of these outrageous ‘Football 2018 WC Saboteur’s claims’ who are trying to destroy the 2018 FIFA Football world cup bid… The northern states are watching Melbourne with suspicion and disbelief… Melbourne’s claim as being the sporting capital of Australia is under threat… Not that I ever really believed it for one moment…
~~~~~~~
KB
mahony said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:11am | Report comment
I live down here too KB, and let me tell you, it is unrelenting. I was born in Sydney and love Melbourne dearly – but at times like this I am embarrased at the provincial thinking of the place. I should cut Adeliade some slack…..
K B said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
We need good Football folk like you and Art at the coal face Mahony… I hope you and Art can retain your sanity for another 10 more years
jimbo said | December 14th 2009 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
KB,
Melbourne isn’t the Sporting Capital of Australia, it is the AFL Capital of Australia.
Last time I’m ever going there.
BigAl said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
I think the Herald Sun ( just like the Roar editors) realise that this sort of story generates hysteria which, obtusely results in more revenue for themselves – and will flog/blog it for the very last cent !
keeper11 said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Decrepit xenophobic cretinous Murdoch tabloid rag…..
what more can you say ..
Tells those punters who can’t think for themesleves.: Who are the ‘Goodies’ and who are the ‘Baddies’..
Australian ‘mainstream’ commercial media 2009….
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
At the time of writing this piece – midnight last night – the offending piece was the top story on the Herald Sun website but had yet to ludicrously appear on the Terrorgraph site.
Is the DT now going to retrospectively warn its readers of the freedoms they lost when they hosted the 2000 Olympics??
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Please try and be accurate with your reporting.
KB said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Who is Fiona Hudson, is she a Melburnian based journo…?
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
oh dear….it’s not from a ‘credible’ FFA Fairfax mouthpiece such as Michael Lynch, Michael Cockerill or Dan Silkstone.
Come on KB…….give journo’s the respect they deserve…..on both sides of an issue…..
which is ‘stuff all, to none’.
KB said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Art,
Mystery solved … For a moment I thought she may have been London based with a real self-serving-interest, in trying to sabotage Australia’s 2018 WC winning bid
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment
Fiona Hudson is a Senior Writer at the Herald Sun.
Mr said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
You mean the non-stop party in Sydney in 2000? Loss of freedom. Crazy.
jimbo said | December 14th 2009 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
The party in Sydney after just qualifying for the 2005 tournament after we beat Uruguay and the late nights for the 2006 WC games.
Doesn’t quite match the excitement of the Bulldogs versus the Demons at the MCG does it . . .
AndyRoo said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
The Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane sub editors are pretty slack with the cut and pasting….there scare story should be up by now.
Ben of Phnom Penh said | December 14th 2009 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Perth and Adelaide are probably more concerned of missing out on the tournament as opposed to fearful of hosting it.
Mxjosh said | December 14th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
I like the large majority of people are so sick of this argument about FIFa trying to force their will upon Australia and its other codes,its all been blown out of proportion, but what are you going to do? This type of over the top sensationalism style reporting will continue right up until when the host nation is decided and possibly (If we win the bidding rights) right up until the 2022 World Cup itself