Australia’s World Cup bid work is far from over
Columnist
By Davidde Corran, 11 May 2010 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- FFA, football, Football Federation Australia, Sepp Blatter, Socceroos
So Australia’s bid book is done and on it’s way to Switzerland. Excellent. Unlike some other bids (the US bid book was complete weeks ago), the book’s competition is just in the nick of time, but nonetheless, it’s a good thing. That said, I wonder if Football Federation Australia missed an opportunity here.
Yesterday the England bid committee, along with a large media presence, sent off their bid book at a morning function at Wembley while announcing David Beckham will be personally handing it over to Sepp Blatter.
Meanwhile, last week the US bid hosted a function, at which they circulated “mini-bid books” to the press, at the sold-out Mexico v Ecuador friendly. In New Jersey!
Both events helped to garner some positive press for their respective bids. Internationally the focus of reporting on Australia’s bid has been restricted to the AFL and NRL FINALLY signing off on Football Federation Australia’s plans.
So by only announcing the book’s sending on twitter and via a press release to the media, have FFA missed a beat in garnering some extra promotion and momentum behind their own campaign?
I suppose Ben Buckley waving a copy around in front of cameras wouldn’t have matched the profile of having a former Real Madrid, Manchester United and AC Milan player personally deliver the book to FIFA anyway.
Furthermore, between managing the A-League, a Socceroos World Cup campaign and the bid, FFA probably wouldn’t have had the time with so much on their plate anyway.
Don’t be mistaken into thinking that now the bid book is complete FFA’s work is over. It’s not. Now the political wrangling and manoeuvring will really begin.
In other words we have another six months of divided attentions from our game’s governing body.
It raises the question as to why didn’t FFA set up a separate and independent bid committee from the governing body like the US did?
The American’s set up means any “cross pollination” between the US Soccer Federation and the US World Cup bid committee is minor.
Unlike in Australia, the domestic game in the US hasn’t stagnated due to a lack of attention from its governing body. This was emphasised by the announcement last week of a new MLS side, Montreal Impact.
Of course the most obvious answer to why FFA didn’t take this path is resources. FFA is a relatively small organisation and Archie Fraser’s hiring was meant to help in this direction. Clearly that hasn’t worked.
I’d argue that seeing as FFA almost refuses to permit “football people” into its upper echelons, then surely there was someone with the managerial skills of Ben Buckley to help fill the gap.
Instead FFA has spent the last few months negotiating with rival codes as the A-league has stuttered along (most A-League clubs are back in pre-season training yet we don’t even know when the league will kick-off).
No wonder many feel the outlook for Australia’s World Cup is bleak.
As Jesse Fink wrote on The World Game yesterday, “I don’t think Frank Lowy’s famous luck is going to work for him this time around; again, I can’t see England not getting 2018 and USA not nabbing 2022, but good luck to Football Federation Australia.”
I hope my fretting is just pessimism, but I fear another six months will be spent with the attention of many at College Street torn between two monumental tasks.
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Marcel Proust said | May 11th 2010 @ 3:50am | Report comment
Realistically, Australia has no chance against the USA.
Apart from “the Asian TV audience”, the Australian bid has little to recommend it.
I reckon travelling to Australia for a World Cup would be cool, but the football infrastructure just isn’t there.
Sad, but true. It will go to the US instead. Even though the people in the US are hostile to association football.
michael said | August 2nd 2010 @ 3:03am | Report comment
As if they will, USA put the world into the GFC and stuffed up the football world cup for South Africa in 2010 and the whole of europe. The USA deserves nothing but zero votes, certainly no countries from the middle east will vote for the US and neither will Europe. Oceania also will not vote for the US. Who the heck is going to vote for the US? Africa? yeah right. USA has no friends and has done very little for the development of football since hosting the world cup, only reason to send it there is for money but FIFA already will have their cash cow with Europe in 2018 they’ll send the world cup to a place that truly deserves the game and who has done a considerable amount of work for football development, not only in their own country but also it’s ex confederation and current federation i.e Australia. Football has grown at a rate of over 60% per year in Australia and now has over 600000 registered players, it’s the number one junior sport and struggles to find enough grounds,coaches etc for the amount of player involved. AUSTRALIA FOR THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP 2022!!!
Nick said | May 11th 2010 @ 5:23am | Report comment
Apparently the Homebush Olympic Stadium does not feature in the book. Where were they planning on having the final? The MCG?
Can’t see a massive oval impressing FIFA.
They should transform the SFS into an 80,000 seat stadium.
mds1970 said | May 11th 2010 @ 7:50am | Report comment
Maybe the FFA and media attention was so absorbed in whether they’d get the sign-off to play on the MCG that they forgot to get ANZ signed off on – and as a result, it’s not yet confirmed as a venue.
Ken said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:27am | Report comment
So it doesn’t appear at all? That seems a strange omission – as you pointed out it was really the only logical place for the final. The MCG is the only other genuinely big stadium we have and it’s shape is terrible for rectangular sports. I would have expected Homebush also be something of a workhorse during the tournament as well.
There didn’t seem to be any move by the NRL to stop them using it, and if they were going to do that I think they would have blocked out the SFS first. I wonder what the reason is, must be something fairly major for them not to name the best suited stadium in the country.
AndyRoo said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:29am | Report comment
If thats a reference to the Hassett article their are some anomolies in their (it mentions 3 Sydney stadiums) so I think he just botched it.
Fivehole said | May 11th 2010 @ 7:34am | Report comment
“Unlike in Australia, the domestic game in the US hasn’t stagnated due to a lack of attention from its governing body. This was emphasised by the announcement last week of a new MLS side, Montreal Impact.”
Ummm, FFA will have added 4 teams in 3 years to the A-league once the rovers are in. Is that considered being stagnant?
Davidde Corran said | May 11th 2010 @ 8:11am | Report comment
The first two of which nearly collapsed in a matter of days after only one season. Meanwhile the MLS expansion teams have been some of the most successfully run clubs off the pitch that the league has ever seen.
I feel that flagging expansion indicates that FFA have dropped the ball.
Son of a Gun said | May 11th 2010 @ 7:45am | Report comment
Meanwhile, last week the US bid hosted a function, at which they circulated “mini-bid books” to the press, at the sold-out Mexico v Ecuador friendly. In New Jersey.
Sorry, but this does not prove mainstream popularity for the game in the US, quite the opposite in fact.
MV Dave said | May 11th 2010 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Football in North America is on the rise with exponential growth in the MLS. There were 10 teams in the league a few years ago and by 2012 there will be 19. Most have had football specific stadiums built for them to play in at a cost of $billions…New Yorks stadium, opened a few weeks back, cost $200 million alone. New team Seattle have sold out season tickets with the number capped at 32,000. Playing numbers are huge. Football is doing very nicely in the US and on the up. Nevertheless l expect Australia to ‘Pip’ (sorry couldn’t resist) them at the post for 2022.
Davidde Corran said | May 11th 2010 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Who said anything about mainstream popularity? Not sure where you’ve got that idea from. It was a part of a broader point about whether FFA should have done as much as other countries to get some positive coverage of the bid book’s completion.
Towser said | May 11th 2010 @ 8:37am | Report comment
The MLS took its time to estabilish itself. It is working.
For me their is a sense of urgency involved around Frank Lowys bid. The catalyst his age.
So the WC bid is ahead of schedule. It should probably have been some years down the track when the A-League(more important than a WC bid) was as estabilished as the MLS.
A gamble in other words.
If it pays off we’ll cash in the chips. If not its maybe deflected energies somewhat that would have been better directed to estabilishing the A-League & the naysayers will stand on the street corners with their megaphones,but it will pass.
AndyRoo said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Actually since the Americans have brought up our fueds with the domestic codes. Which by the way have generously come to the table in ways I don’t think their American counterparts would the gloves are off.
The fact the US team playing a friendly against Ecuador wouldn’t be as popular is a weakness or at least should be potrayed as such. So be quiet MV Dave, we need all the mrk Whalbergs we can get our hands on.
Don’t let them get to you David we want the World Cup in OZ 2022!
Forgetmenot said | May 11th 2010 @ 8:27am | Report comment
I feel the FFA did not want any cheap publicity stunt to take away from the fact that an agreement had been reached with the AFL, NRL, and ARU. They wanted the international media focus to be on this agreement rather than on lets say, Craig Foster handing the book to Sepp,or perhaps a young Aussie with Sudanese heritage, hand in hand with an older Aussie of Italian heritage giving the book to Sepp.
Davidde Corran said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:16pm | Report comment
That’s a very interesting perspective Forgetmenot. You could well be right. Possibly they didn’t want to take away from today’s announcement either.
David said | May 11th 2010 @ 8:34am | Report comment
I think were a 50/50 chance of getting one, 2022 being the most likely Australia has one major advantage if the WC come to Australia it will grow the game substantially. Fifa have already had a WC in the USA and lets face it, the game in the USA will always finish 4th or 5th in regards to NHL, Bball etc Australian football has grow faster then any other nation in the last 5 years fifa will want to encourage this growth as australians the the high repersented supporters Per.cap at the world cup.
Also, Asia has where the $ are at these days so having and AFC repersentative host the world cup is more appealing then any other con.fed.
In Contrast Australia has also been boosting New Zealand football and a world cup on this side of the world might kick Oceane in the back side.
I dont like when people say we have nothing to offer in the long term i think we have more to offer/gain from host the WC then any other bid.
Were also the safest nation in the world with few natrual disarsters, law and order, good climate for football in juna not to mention we’ve done a good job at the Olyimpics in 2000.
The only bad thing about Australia is the time Zone differences but personally i think FIfa would be folish not to give us a chance.
keeper11 said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Watch the usual ‘footy-media ‘ closed shop rewrite history to suit their own version of the ‘truth.’..
In the end of the day….pity the australian public will not be allowed to read any objective reporting ..
and to see for themeselves the shameless parochial self-serving and agenda driven sleazy fear laden undermining of our WC bid by the local codes..
in contrast to the mature , open-minded and professional response of the US’s domestic sports ..
in supposedly ‘insular’ America…
… Thanks alot murdoch -news-limited and co…
AndyRoo said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:25am | Report comment
“in contrast to the mature , open-minded and professional response of the US’s domestic sports ..”
Their only mature about it because it doesn’t effect them one bit.
If the NFL had to alter their schedule by 90 games they would make the AFL look dignified.
JamesP said | May 11th 2010 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
This is true. Keeper11..read the “US Bid Looking good” article (or words to that affect) on TWG website.
mds1970 said | May 11th 2010 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
The other codes have undermined the World Cup bid? On the contrary, the other codes have agreed to give up their main stadiums for 2 months mid-season in order for the World Cup to go ahead.
They have made the stadiums available – is that not enough?
If the bid fails, it won’t be the AFL and NRL’s fault.
mahony said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:30am | Report comment
The FFA have done a remarkable job in a country where the dominant spectator codes and their near monopoly media arms have been absolutely hostile. Those writing off our bid do so without any real knowledge of its status and/or how the FFA’s relationship with FIFA operates. It is all blogger speculation as either (a) anti-football paranoia and hate or (b) self-hating football pessimism for fear of failure in a competition with other nations. I for one am amazed at how the FFA has managed the whole process given the various challenges they face (including managing a massive domestic football reform agenda) – very disciplined IMO.
Son of a Gun said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:47am | Report comment
From what i understand, it was done with government money and government task force and government negotiation with the other football codes.
The FFA consists of Lowy and yes man Buckley, as i understand it.
Joe FC said | May 11th 2010 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
“The FFA consists of Lowy and yes man Buckley, as i understand it.” Then you don’t understand much.
mahony said | May 11th 2010 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
You clearly do not understand the long back story to the bid, the purpose / timing of the taskforce, the adminstrivia of a bid and the politics of FIFA or the difference between funding something and actually doing it.
The FFA is a very small organisation at this stage in its development, and for it to put together this WC bid took a Herculean effort. I, for one, congratulate them for a bid, that despite domestic white-anting, has clearly put us in the race.
I don’t believe the pessimism is warranted, even though as FW always tells us – it is a very difficult thing our nation is trying to achieve here.
mahony said | May 11th 2010 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
One final point is that only cowards look at difficult challenges, ‘bravely’ underrate a competitors ability to succeed – and IF it does not work out argue ‘I told you so’……
If the bid fails it will be because we were white-anted by the AFL, beaten by a better bid and/or out-played in FIFA.
If the bid succeeds it will be because people of vision thought Australia should dare to do so.
The latter is demonstrative of the Australia spirit – not the provincial, fearfull, insecurity that is often demonstrated by many contributors this site.
JamesP said | May 11th 2010 @ 10:19pm | Report comment
“If the bid fails it will be because we were white-anted by the AFL, beaten by a better bid and/or out-played in FIFA”
Defintely the last two
You love sticking the boot in to the AFL don’t you….
Art Sapphire said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
You guys may not be aware but Spike Lee is on the board of the U.S Bid Committee.
From US Soccer –
An avid sports fan known for sitting courtside at basketball games in New York City, Lee also has a passion for international soccer and the Arsenal Football Club of the English Premier League. Lee previously became the 40,000th season ticket-holder for F.C. Internazionale Milano, a perennial contender in Italy’s Serie A and Europe.
“Spike Lee owns a distinct creative spirit and unbridled passion for sport and we’re privileged to be able to incorporate his voice into the development of our bid,” said Sunil Gulati, the Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer. “As a fan of soccer and a father of a youth level player, Spike will provide a unique and invaluable perspective to our board of directors.”
“The sport of soccer has a global unifying aspect that allows it to break down social barriers and sets it among other universal languages such as music and the visual arts.” said Academy Award-nominated director Lee. “This unique quality is embedding the sport in the diverse American cultural landscape. I’m honored to be part of the USA Bid Committee and its efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup back to our country as we see the second half of our soccer history develop in front of our eyes.”
Respect to Spike for those sentiments.
But, let’s hope FIFA don’t “Do the Right Thing” according to Spike
AndyRoo said | May 11th 2010 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Sorry Art. I really really really want the World Cup in Australia. If it means I have to watch Mark Wahlbergs films instead of Spike Lees I will.
Art Sapphire said | May 11th 2010 @ 10:22am | Report comment
It’s good to see you are going to do your patriotic duty and take one for the team Andy Roo.
Can you also please volunteer to fly the flag by watching Hugh Jackman’s films.
I happened to catch Do the Right Thing on Fox Classics a few months back after not having watched it for many years what a great film.
Davidde Corran said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
Art, loving the “Do the Right Thing” reference. Top marks!
Joe FC said | May 11th 2010 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
-”seeing as FFA almost refuses to permit “football people” into it’s upper echelons”. Exactly what does this mean Davidde and more importantly can you substantiate it?
Davidde Corran said | May 11th 2010 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
Name one person with a football background involved in a senior administrative role at FFA?
Joe FC said | May 11th 2010 @ 10:52pm | Report comment
Answering a question with a question might be clever Davidde but it’s not honest. I still don’t know what to make of your comment and nor do I have any idea as to its veracity. But lest you think I’m not prepared to do as I say let me answer your question: Jack Reilly is on the board & Han Berger is on the management committee. Archie Fraser was on the committee before his resignation and John Boultbee and Rob Abernethy have extensive sporting backgrounds. Ben Buckley as we all know has a strong AFL background, which is exactly the model association football in this country needs to replicate if it is to be successful.
Davidde Corran said | May 12th 2010 @ 2:53am | Report comment
It’s not honest? Not appreciated but putting that aside almost everyone you mentioned is not what I’d consider a senior administrator nor in a position related to the bid.
The one exception being Archie Fraser who hasn’t exactly impressed, whether that is his fault or FFA’s is open to debate. He isn’t a “football person” in my definition as he hasn’t been continuously engaged with the game over the long term.
The reason I feel all of this is important is because another one of the people you mentioned was responsible for a humongous political gaff about two years ago that severely damaged Australia’s reputation in Asia. He isn’t a football person and didn’t appreciate what he was doing until it was far too late.