Herald Sun reports FIFA poses threat to Melbourne’s freedom
Roar Guru By Art Sapphire, 14 Dec 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- FIFA, football, Herald Sun, Melbourne, world cup bid
109 Have your say
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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- Explore:
- FIFA, football, Herald Sun, Melbourne, world cup bid
December 14th 2009 @ 10:19am
Gweeds said | December 14th 2009 @ 10:19am | Report comment
In latest developments we just learned that the World Cup bid is responsible for Global Warming, Swine Flu and Hey Hey returning to TV.
December 14th 2009 @ 10:37am
Midfielder said | December 14th 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Tis all true Gweeds … horror shock eat babies… no schooling for kids..80 working week…
December 14th 2009 @ 11:12am
mahony said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
“Won’t someone please think of the children”
December 14th 2009 @ 10:52am
Ben of Phnom Penh said | December 14th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Ye Olde “Sports Capital of Australia” tag is taking something of a hammering one would think.
December 14th 2009 @ 11:21am
Gweeds said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
But Sydney is on the act as well.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/secret-world-cup-contract-controls-sydney-overrides-liquor-laws/story-e6frexni-1225809965305
December 14th 2009 @ 11:35am
TammyS said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Not as much anti-world cup articles in sydney though. You have to admit a lot of the negativity for the world cup is coming from down south
December 14th 2009 @ 12:27pm
Lisa said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
Yes, speaking to friends and family in UK over the weekend, they tell me there’s a new nick for Victoria.. the “Deep-South” of Australia.
Incredibly sad… the imbeciles at the AFL have no idea what damage they’re causing to Melbourne’s international image and reputation.. sad, sad, sad.. they think all their posturing isn’t going to cost Victoria in any way or form…
December 14th 2009 @ 2:44pm
K B said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Yes you can now understand why and how Cyprus was divided into two waring tribes… Archbishop Markarious had nothing on Presidente Demetriou… Presidente Demetriou has ordered in the razor wire to be placed around Docklands to barricade it from the world…
December 16th 2009 @ 5:28am
VooDoo said | December 16th 2009 @ 5:28am | Report comment
What should we care what people in the UK think of Australian states? You can’t make a credible case that the AFL is hurting Melbourne’s international reputation, when every second post on this site reiterates that nobody outside Australia recognises what the AFL is or knows about the sport.
December 16th 2009 @ 6:11am
Punter said | December 16th 2009 @ 6:11am | Report comment
Steady on chap,, we in Britain love the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour bridge & especially Bondiii beach.
December 14th 2009 @ 11:25am
MV Dave said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:25am | Report comment
HS is an embarrassment and its scaremongering a disgrace…”Sports Capital of Oz” …Pigs Ar$%
Melbourne is the capital of AFL…and unfortunately parochial journos/editors with their vested interest are happy to keep it that way!
The only aspect missing in the article is a picture of Sepp in a Nazi outfit…perhaps tomorrows episode of this HS vendetta.
Fortunately many Melburnians are beginning to see this assault by the pro AFL lobby on the World Game for what it is myopic defensive small minded divisive diatribe. They know that AFL will still be no.1 in Melbourne even after a WC here…pity the so called AFL intelligentsia aint got a clue!
December 14th 2009 @ 12:29pm
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
scare mongering…
just remember it was Michael Lynch in the Fairfax press who 6 weeks ago gave us “Rival codes face two-month Cup shutdown”
….oh that’s right……that wasn’t scare mongering when it comes from the soccer side,
it’s the ‘reaction’ that is ‘scare mongering’.
The FFA can’t put together it’s Big Book until they confirm whether AFL and NRL are able to continue. Can Ben Buckley/Frank Lowy pull off a minor miracle in 5 months??
FIFA will try to keep Australia on the hook for as long as the Fed Govt is willing to sign more cheques just for the bid!!!
December 16th 2009 @ 5:32am
VooDoo said | December 16th 2009 @ 5:32am | Report comment
The Herald-Sun isn’t a mouthpiece of the AFL, it’s a Melbourne media outlet, expressing the opinion of Melburnians. News Ltd. bankrolls the Melbourne Storm, and gives them a great deal of coverage. I hardly think that would be consistent with a rag that is supposedly an AFL mouthpiece.
December 16th 2009 @ 6:29am
MV Dave said | December 16th 2009 @ 6:29am | Report comment
Obviously havent read it in the last 30 years.
December 14th 2009 @ 12:35pm
Koala Bear said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
MVDave,
Chelsea, Chelsea, here we go, here we go…. etc etc glad you’re are back just in time for the double….
~~~~~~
KB
December 14th 2009 @ 1:41pm
MV Dave said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
KB
The only double l can see coming is MV for the HAL and ACL!!!
BTW Man Utd are currently enlarging their trophy room so have agreed to let someone else win this season whilst the 2nd floor is added
December 15th 2009 @ 10:57am
jimbo said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
MV Dave,
I heard the Man U renovations were to make the trophy room smaller to make room for a McDonalds restaurant.
December 14th 2009 @ 11:52am
Midfielder said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Gweeds
From your post in another forum … pure GOLD …from the HS
tuesday: World cup crime threat:
gypsy pickpocket gangs to target australia posing as soccer fans
wednesday: World cup aids threat.
health authorities fear large numbers of soccer fans from africa will increase infection rates.
thursday: World cup illegal immigration threat:
Soccer fans to overstay visas
friday: World cup terror threat.
muslim terrorists to enter australia posing as soccer fans
saturday: Melbourne snubbed by soccer fans.
despite melbourne’s international reputation for tolerance and multi-culturalism, soccer fans are more likely to stay in sydney.
December 14th 2009 @ 11:53am
Nath FC said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
It doesn’t stop there, Rebecca wilson was given two minutes this morning on sunrise to air her idiotic views on the world cup and how it’s a comp that wont benefit Australia in any way shape or form and if it was up to her she would have hosted on Stradbroke Island!! Her brother was right beside bad mouthing it too!! Wasn’t he in Durban the other week covering the World Cup draw for Channel 7?? Anyway the sooner next Decmeber comes around the better!! After that we will have no more of these ridiculous articles that are doing nothing except for shifting papers and scaring the crap out of all non football loving Aussies!!
December 14th 2009 @ 12:23pm
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
last Friday morning Rebecca Wilson pretty well had that view but Jim was against here, reasonably strongly,
however, something changed for Jim during the day,
because, by 5.50 pm when he chats on the Derryn Hinch radio program on 3AW, he came armed with a number,
$3.8 billion,
no idea where he got it from,
but, it’s seemingly the annual value of the AFL ‘industry’ to the national economy,
and he realised that b/w this as well as whatever figure would represent the NRL – that, it’s pretty hard to justify the disruption of the existing domestic football economy – especially for what equates to 4 weeks.
Attack them all you might – which would be sad, as, in a democratic land of free speech – by far the most important thing on this topic presently is the presence of freely aired contrary views.
December 14th 2009 @ 11:59am
PastHisBest said | December 14th 2009 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Does anyone actually take any notice of stories in the feral hun???
December 14th 2009 @ 12:33pm
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Anyway don’t worry Art, there will be a pro soccer article in the HS tommorrow arguing the other direction.
This article by Richard Hinds article is one of the best in the mist out there:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/zealotry-undermines-support-for-cup-bid-20091211-kolw.html
Redb
December 14th 2009 @ 12:44pm
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
redb – I thought you were going to post Silkstone’s piece from the same day, its much funnier
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/stadium-shuffle-a-game-the-big-boys-play-20091211-koox.html
Hinds is a dinosaur with Alzheimers and conveniently forgets the tonnes of mud thrown at the ‘wog’s’ game over the years.
For every action there is a reaction redb. At least I can understand where it comes from. Hinds doesn’t.
December 14th 2009 @ 12:51pm
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Silkstone’s piece on the stadium merry go around was very good.
As for the tonnes of mud – you blokes have to get over it, it clouds the future. it is not up to everyone to carry others baggage.
December 14th 2009 @ 12:52pm
Punter said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
This parochial attitude of the AFL that everything is foreign is not good, does these include Rugby, Rugby League & cricket, as all these sports are just as foreign as football in this country.
For all this talk of McDonalds versus the local favourite rustic slop doesn’t hold well with me. Football in this country has been around for as long as AFL & Rugby League. Unfortunately this local favourite rustic slop called football which dates back as long as any local favourite rustic slop imported to this country by white man has always been mistreated by the media. I remembered being bullied as a kid 40 years ago at school for this rustic slop with the foreign taste way before McDonalds ever existed.
December 14th 2009 @ 1:14pm
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
you confuse this with the attitude of the soccer/Rugby protagonists who suggest that everything ‘Australian’ is flawed,
the reality is more
“Not everything that is foreign is better”,
and as inspiration, the success of Jindi Cheese the other day…….sometimes local IS best.
December 14th 2009 @ 1:22pm
Punter said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
You miss my point. I don’t regard Football as foreign as you do. Yes it’s been around for over a century in this country.
December 14th 2009 @ 1:34pm
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
and yet takes all instruction of any note from ruddy Zurich,
but, I don’t not follow or like cricket because the ICC is based in Dubai(??),
I don’t discount one or the other for being foreign
however, I am constantly facing a barrage on theRoar from people telling me AFL is no good because it’s not ‘global’, not international, not etc etc.
Who give’s a rats………it’s survived here pretty damned well despite the best that soccer and rugby and even cricket (and basketball, and tennis, and golf, and the Olympics etc etc) can throw at it.
To me, that says that we’ve been doing something right,
btw – soccer folk, make up your mind.
Either ‘football’ as you put it only has a 5 year history (the HAL), or, HAS been around since 1875 in Sydney (134 years and it’s struggled to do much outside of SYdney…..what’s that tell you……RL, 100 years and it’s not expanded outside of it’s 1910 ‘heartland’…….ah we insular Australians!!!).
December 14th 2009 @ 6:50pm
mahony said | December 14th 2009 @ 6:50pm | Report comment
125 years in VIC and 130 in NSW – and that is just the ‘official history’ – the game was here well before that!
December 16th 2009 @ 5:44am
VooDoo said | December 16th 2009 @ 5:44am | Report comment
And yet it complains that it isn’t being afforded respect by the other codes. I’d have thought that 130 years would have been long enough for soccer to get its act in gear, acquire some infrastructure and crowds, and end their dependence upon the other codes to keep their sport viable in Australia. I doubt that the A-League would be viable if they didn’t have other codes underwriting their venues.
December 14th 2009 @ 2:23pm
K B said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
“Not everything that is foreign is better”,
Yes you are right MC…
But when it comes to Football vs Grooky… The cumulative global television audience for Football in 2006 was 26.2 billion with the single largest audience group coming from the Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is a member.
Until the Grooky International Cup can match that, what’s the point of denying Australians the best Football experience they will ever have in their life time on Australian soil … It’s not as if it is going to happen every year… Wake up Grooky land…
December 14th 2009 @ 3:05pm
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
so??
I’m not denying anyone anything.
You go ahead and do it,……with what soccer in this country has built or warranted having built……y’know, Green Gully stadium, Hindmarsh……enjoy!!
FYI – V5 avg atten sub 9500.
Last 8 weeks total attendance:
V5 : 328,761………..Avg : 8,219
V4 : 375,932………..Avg : 11,747
V3 : 456,102………..Avg : 14,253
V2 : 425,018………..Avg : 13,281
V1 : 329,694………..Avg : 10,302
face it, the HAL is now officially a joke, a national embarrasment. The last 8 weeks, with 8 extra games, can’t even beat the pretty ordinary V1 figures (which after all were achieving Franks magic 10,000 mark……alas, that’s now just history……).
December 14th 2009 @ 4:37pm
K B said | December 14th 2009 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
That only suggests that the Euro Snobs are yet still to be won over… They will be prepared to kill for a world cup tix on Australian soil… The HAL still has 10% growth up on last season… Next year two more clubs to enter the comp … btw your stats have not considered what part the WFC played in the drop of supporters attending .. they’re not dead and buried, but ready to come back when times get better… In Qld the taxes over the state have sky rocketed… that’s been a big problem up here.. Winter codes just escaped that trend…
December 14th 2009 @ 7:32pm
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 7:32pm | Report comment
Seeing the impact of 2 new clubs and a longer season this year just reinforces the view that the HAL is far better off being a niche summer contest over and done nice and quick…..a bit like the KFC Big Bash.
WFC – we stat here last year looking for early signs, and the V4 crowds fell away and plummeted to my predicted worst case scenario,
meanwhile 2009 was the NRL’s best as a 16 team comp and was among the top 3 AFL seasons ever.
I guess, V5 is among the best 5 HAL seasons ever……..
btw – I hope those Eurosnobs have broad shoulders!!! They must be the one’s who barrack for Carlton but turn up to watch Greece vs the Socceroos and Juventus vs MVFC.
December 14th 2009 @ 9:16pm
marinator4LYF said | December 14th 2009 @ 9:16pm | Report comment
what do you seriously hope to achieve by constantly puttin football down in favour of afl, if you follow afl thats your choice, how does it hurt you that we football fans just want to have a league to support, if afl is sooooo big and mighty that football never has a chance to surpass it then why do you need to constantly tell people this?!!? I can honestly say i would never consider going onto an afl or nrl article just to bag the sport or its supporters.
December 15th 2009 @ 9:20am
AndyRoo said | December 15th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Once we get to 12 teams and Rovers and Heart are needed for some balance (too many regional teams) and Rovers are especially needed and can’t come fast enough. I wouldn’t mind just seeing Home and Away in Summer and perhaps something during winter. Not sure how it would work but to keep players fit for the ACL and perhaps being in Europes off season lure in a few guest players and such for some sort of mini tournament.
Maybe a wednesday night comp designed for TV so played at small football specific venues.
The new teams haven’t done anything to reduce crowds (just the Avg) but they were needed for interest. The same 8 teams playing each other up to 5 times a season was getting stale. The teams that are run well are doing about the same as always (or better) but the badly run teams Jets, Roar and GCU have done horribly.
Problems with ownership can be sorted.
December 15th 2009 @ 10:54am
Daniel King said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Mate you really don’t know what you are talking about. You have no idea how big this is, i absolutely guaruntee you will love the atmosphere if the WC comes here. Forget domestic competitions, this will be massive, this will dwarf anything you have seen.. you will love it, trust me i know.
By the way, what is it with you Aussie and your “i love one sport so the others are rubbish” attitude?
December 16th 2009 @ 5:48am
VooDoo said | December 16th 2009 @ 5:48am | Report comment
Two more clubs in the comp will dilute the crowds further. It’s barely better than the NSL.
December 16th 2009 @ 5:47am
VooDoo said | December 16th 2009 @ 5:47am | Report comment
“Best football experience” isn’t correlated to the numbers watching it. Australian Idol outrates Last Night of the Proms, but the singers certainly aren’t as good.
December 16th 2009 @ 6:12am
Punter said | December 16th 2009 @ 6:12am | Report comment
Think Swans, think Iron Chef!!!!
December 15th 2009 @ 10:54am
jimbo said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
There is nothing in this great southern land that isn’t foreign,
including AFL.
December 14th 2009 @ 6:56pm
mahony said | December 14th 2009 @ 6:56pm | Report comment
Ah – the old we provoke you – you bite – we write about how you bit. I agree, football fans should just let it be as their angre (mine included) however well founded is no longer required. We have made our point and public opinion is with us. Every AFL inspired whine from here on in will be seen for what it is. The game has changed and people of good will and common sense know it – for everyone else – the earth is not round.
December 15th 2009 @ 9:22am
AndyRoo said | December 15th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
I agree the energy would be much better spent gettign excited about MV vs SFC
December 14th 2009 @ 12:36pm
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
The Murdoch rag in old Blighty in their patriotic attempt to get the WC to England reports that
“FIFA will read the local and national press but perhaps most importantly will talk at length to local people and gauge their feelings about the World Cup finals turning up on their doorstep. The enthusiasm, hospitality and ability of the communities involved will play an influential role in deciding which nation wins the right to host the tournament.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/2763629/Your-chance-to-win-the-World-Cup.html#ixzz0ZcvJxQV3
Looks like the Murdoch edict has gone out – Win the WC for England – Sabotage the bid for Australia.
December 14th 2009 @ 12:59pm
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
You must have missed this article in the Herald Sun:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/codes-at-war-will-not-kill-world-cup-bid/story-e6frf9if-1225809680828
oh no, another pro soccer WC article in the Herald Sun whats the world coming to?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/ian-royall-argues-the-case-for-favouring-australias-world-cup-bid-over-the-afl/story-e6frfhqf-1225807899477
December 14th 2009 @ 1:23pm
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
What is the world coming to redb indeed – ones an interview with Buckley. How is that pro-soccer??
The other was a reasoned counterpoint printed below Sheahan’s mad ravings last week.
Compare that to the barrage of scare-mongering we have seen over the last week from the Hun including today’s Walkley award winning effort. Good one Fiona. You have scored 2 tickets to the next years AFL Grand Final courtesy of Uncle Andy.
This is as fair and balanced as pseudo news broadcaster Fox News
December 14th 2009 @ 1:45pm
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
Ok Art, now lie down for a minute.
An article titled: “Codes at war will not kill world cup bid” Might at least be labelled a positive story – or your still not happy unless they proclaim “lets cancel an entire AFL season just for fun”.
Never satisfed these people your try and help them but off they go ranting and raving.
Redb
p.s. I’m more than happy to write a scare mongering piece if I get two tickets to the AFL GF. Let me know who to pillor and character assasinate and I’m up for it.
December 14th 2009 @ 2:06pm
Art Sapphire said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Nice try redb – being an Essendon supporter your chances of gettiing tickets to the GF is about 1in 3, so ofcourse you would be happy to do a hatchet job on the WC.
That’s too easy, how about you write FIFA approved World Cup articles for a year and I will see to it that Uncle Sepp buys you a few tickets to the Dons GF
I was going to suggest it to Michael C but it would be a waste of time as he would have no problems getting a ticket to a Roos GF as there are so few of them
December 14th 2009 @ 2:20pm
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
This is true
December 14th 2009 @ 2:57pm
AndyRoo said | December 14th 2009 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
I thought we had solved the World Cup issues and had moved on.
Redb was only willing to allow a two-week break max when this was first brought up a month ago but will now settle for 3 (With AFL SOO during that 3 weeks), preceded by 4 weeks of split rounds. Grand final will be held at the MCG in October, Collingwood to have a gruelling interstate away schedule.
Football gets the MCG but not Docklands, we don’t sign the Copenhagen agreement and instead spend a small proportion of the 200bn in savings on upgrading another stadium for footballs use in Melbourne.
Onto the next issue… how boring is Golf?
December 14th 2009 @ 3:01pm
Redb said | December 14th 2009 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
I didn’t author this piece. Just providing some light to the tunnel vision.
December 14th 2009 @ 7:28pm
Michael C said | December 14th 2009 @ 7:28pm | Report comment
AndyRoo -
Golf put’s the “F’in boring”.
Art -
yep, made it to the last 2 NM premierships, although, back in them days, we only have about 15,000 members,…..double that these days.
Getting seats at the ‘G on GF day is still a major hassle due to the throw back to Govt intervention that sees ruddy Cricket Club members retain access to a footy match……..madness. This is part of the reason AFL folk are nervous about stupic govt’s getting involved where they have no ethical right.
December 14th 2009 @ 1:37pm
Realfootball said | December 14th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
In the end, it all makes great copy for the media – and so the journos run with it every which way they will. Everyone so far has conformed to type exactly. No one has said anything they would not have been expected to say.
The WC bid is all part of a wider agenda from the FFA in a long term battle to establish football as a viable commercial code in this country. And how it is working so far: tthe World Game – very much in caps – in the forefront of the media almost every day, a 47 million dollar blank cheque from the government, political elevation above AFL and NRL in terms of the national interest, and public diminuation (in a global context) of those same two codes.
Has football ever had so much attention? I would argue no, not even in the last WC, because that was short and sharp but this is sustained, and of course will feed right into our next WC finals appearance.
In the short term, however, it isn’t putting bums on seats in our far from full A League stadiums. But as I said, it’s a long term game. The catch is that if A League crowds drop much further, the game might well become redundant. Attendances are looking awfully NSL right now.