Australia shown up in World Cup sideshow
Columnist By Davidde Corran, 10 Jun 2010 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, football, Football World Cup, Socceroos
Related coverage
- Football news
- Socceroos news
- Socceroos Fixtures news
- AFL news
- Toyota Premiership news
- Socceroos 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying news
AFC Congresses are boring, or at least, they usually are. Certainly, Tuesday’s was meant to be. Any assembly in which most of the agenda consists of mild changes to a governing body’s statutes and regulations is hardly going to get the blood pumping.
When that very meeting is wrapped up by the President of the Lebanese FA complaining about AFC statutes referring to “the” AFC when no one refers to “the” FIFA, you know you’re in trouble.
Yet at the AFC’s 2010 congress in Johannesburg on Tuesday, something significant did happen.
Frank Lowy, whose relationship with AFC President Mohammed Bin Hammam once seemed to know no bounds, was snubbed and Australia’s World Cup bid was shafted.
While the general consensus has been that the 2018 World Cup hosting rights would go to Europe, it was only on Tuesday that Bin Hammam officialised Asia’s support for that movement.
“I want to assure Europe on behalf of AFC that we recognise and support their desire to host the 2018 edition,” said Bin Hammam.
“It will be an open bid and everybody is free to support anyone. But our support is for Europe when it comes to 2018.
“The mood inside the FIFA Executive Committee is that Europe should host the 2018 version.”
Europe’s designs on the 2018 tournament might not be news but Asia’s support certainly was and Football Federation Australia was caught off guard.
Ben Buckley admitted as much to The World Game’s Matthew Hall on Wednesday.
“It was not a position that had been put forward to us prior to the meeting but it doesn’t change anything,” Buckley said.
“We are still confident in our position in the competition.”
About five hours after Bin Hammam’s speech to the AFC congress on Tuesday, FFA announced a press conference for the following morning. In attendance would be Lowy, Sports Minister Kate Ellis, FFA CEO Ben Buckley and the Australian High Commissioner in South Africa, Ann Harrap.
Officially the Australian press conference might have been to announce an initiative to get over 9,000 desks for African school children, but then why was there so much “Come Play” paraphernalia in all the photo opportunities?
It’s called damage control.
Australia’s bid has been slipping ever since AFL boss Andrew Demetriou took, what I consider, the low road in protecting his football code.
While Lowy might have slammed one report which placed Australia’s World Cup bid in 7th place as “a lot of nonsense”, there’s no getting away from what was another embarrassing political hit to Australia’s World Cup aspirations.
With the Socceroos World Cup opener against Germany on the horizon, lets hope it’s the last time Australia gets caught with its pants down in South Africa this year.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, football, Football World Cup, Socceroos
June 10th 2010 @ 4:27pm
andrew said | June 10th 2010 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
Davidde
What would the high road have been, if AD took the low road? The original requirements of FIFA were that competing sports, e.g. AFL and NRL, DO NOT PLAY ANY GAMES while the World Cup is on. Read that again, and tell me, what the high road was for a bloke who earns a million bucks a year to manage the AFL? What high road options were available to him when faced with suspending his whole competition for the middle part of the season. The compromise position that resulted from the negotiation is, in my view, very generous.
June 10th 2010 @ 5:03pm
Phil E Buster said | June 10th 2010 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
andrew, can you provide evidence of FIFA EVER stating the AFL or NRL would have to stop play during the world cup?
I’ll save you the trouble, because I think you’ll find it never has. The fact you think this ever happened shows only that the AFL scaremongering campaign has been highly effective among their more impressionable fans.
June 11th 2010 @ 2:49am
Davidde Corran said | June 11th 2010 @ 2:49am | Report comment
As Farqwar says below, you’ve been roped in by Demetriou’s comments. AFL was never going to be banned during the World Cup.
The low road was playing on the negative atmosphere and stereotypes that has surrounded the round ball game for the last 40 plus years. Demetriou used scare tactics and it worked. That was his choice to make (albeit a successful one) but in my opinion it was cowardly and did both his code and Australia a disservice.
June 11th 2010 @ 1:19pm
st penguin said | June 11th 2010 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Just goes to show how effective scare tactics can be.
This guy Andrew reads/hears somewhere that no other sports were allowed during the world cup and he believes it. Doesn’t even attempt to find out whether it’s true.
What really annoyed my about Demetriou was his use of megaphone politics. He made a number of complaints to the media about the FFA, and I cannot think of one single reason for him doing this other than attempting to destablise Australia’s bid.
June 11th 2010 @ 2:51pm
Australian Football said | June 11th 2010 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Yes and the AFL posters here would tell you that it was all the FFA’s fault for Demetriou’s ignorance.
June 10th 2010 @ 4:34pm
Farqwar said | June 10th 2010 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Is that the case but Andrew? my understanding has always been that it was just major international sporting events couldn’t be held at the same time. I think the confusion arose because the AFL thought it was a major international sporting event.
Of course, it would make sense for the AFL to take a two week break during the actual tournament and that shouldn’t be a problem.
June 10th 2010 @ 4:46pm
King of the Gorganites said | June 10th 2010 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
South Africa and France are playing in Capetown (Newlands) in Rugby on Saturday. Techically no international games should be in the same city as FIFA game, but rugby and football have a good working relationship in the Republic so an exemption was granted. the French play football at the new stadium in capetown a few days later, so its a perfect opportunity for the French football fans to catch a bit of rugby.
I blame that sleazy ball demtriou and the other lackeys in the AFL for ruining Australia’s world cup bid. the AFL should had looked to SA to realise how working with Football could actually be benficial.
The Blue Bulls are arguably the most Afrikaan of all rugby teams. When they made the finals of the recent super 14 tournament, they didnt moan about having to move from the massive fortress at loftus. No, they saw it as an opportunity, and in a masterstroke took their games 100 miles south to the black township of Soweto. The stadium sold out in moments for the the semi and final. blacks and whites loved it. i have never seen so many blacks at a rugby game before, that can only be good for rugby and SA.
Shame on you AFL and your zealot fans.
June 10th 2010 @ 6:17pm
Mr said | June 10th 2010 @ 6:17pm | Report comment
We must be 6 months out – almost to the day now. AFL will have their chance to change their tune if we win the bid. And change they must.
June 10th 2010 @ 10:17pm
Farqwar said | June 10th 2010 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
Well, you would put the AFL on hold for 2 or 3 weeks so everyone including AFL fans, players and their families could enjoy the international cultural festival of sport and humanity and help celerbrate the Australian culture with everyone else. In the lead up to the tournament you could showcase your game to curious onlookers, much like Rugby did with the super 14 final.
The point is Michael, its not a big deal. The damage is done by beating the issue up in the media, including by Michael Cockerill, if that is what he said.
June 10th 2010 @ 4:40pm
MVDave said | June 10th 2010 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
Agree with cryuff turn above…MBH statement changes nothing…we already knew Europe would be likely to have 2018 and this is just the start of negotiations to have 2022 in Asia with Oz’s bid being the strongest. There will be lots of twists and turns between now and December and l wont be concerned until…December. When its all said and done 2022 will be between Oz and USA…the US have already had it and whilst football is going great guns there at the moment there will be no lasting infrastructure legacy for football as all the games will be played in Gridiron stadiums. Oz very much still in the hunt for 2022.
BTW FL obviously wants to keep the 2018 option open because he has a better chance of seeing that one.
June 10th 2010 @ 7:31pm
Beaver Fever said | June 10th 2010 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
I just cannot believe what power our little backwater Australian Football league has, reminds me of that great Australian movie “The Castle”.
Battling the Billionaire forces of Frank Lowy, FFA and of course the world bully boy FIFA.
A great win for the common man, if we win the bid, it will be great for Australian football to play out of upgraded stadiums.
June 10th 2010 @ 9:50pm
Norm said | June 10th 2010 @ 9:50pm | Report comment
-”…little backwater Australian Football league…”…at least you got something right.
June 10th 2010 @ 10:44pm
Midfielder said | June 10th 2010 @ 10:44pm | Report comment
BF
The AFL does not have power over FIFA … FIFA have a number of bids and will select the best one… that you claim FIFA choose US over Australia as good .. well that is your call and a proud Australian you must be … to have so much power … cough cough ….
June 10th 2010 @ 11:26pm
Beaver Fever said | June 10th 2010 @ 11:26pm | Report comment
We will not be bullied by the likes of billionaires and FIFA, i have never claimed that FIFA should pick the USA.
ALL Australians must win ( as many as possible) from the w/c bid, the stadiums upgrades are a win/win.
June 11th 2010 @ 12:33am
Midfielder said | June 11th 2010 @ 12:33am | Report comment
BF
FIFA will simply choose the best that you wish to show others as better than Australia is your choose … and BTW that billionaire thing I think the AFL have a few more … so would not go down that line …as the bully tag can be reversed…
June 10th 2010 @ 9:52pm
Moonface said | June 10th 2010 @ 9:52pm | Report comment
Aussie Rules don’t really have the power to stop a FIFA WC and most people in FIFA wouldn’t care if the WC wasn’t played in Australia. The WC will still go on regardless and football fans will still get to watch it.
I’m surprised no one at FFA called Demetriou’s bluff and put in a bid without any of the Aussie Rules states involved.
June 10th 2010 @ 10:40pm
Midfielder said | June 10th 2010 @ 10:40pm | Report comment
Will happen next time with NZ & Indonesian invited to take the AFL stadiums… This will knock China out of the water and have heaps of government & business support
June 10th 2010 @ 11:30pm
Beaver Fever said | June 10th 2010 @ 11:30pm | Report comment
ALL stakeholders must win, the Aussie rules states are just as important as the rugby ones and in reality provide the bulk of sporting fans who attend football games week in/out.
What do you think Demetriou is bluffing about, he is holding the good cards, the sport he runs provides all the fans to pay for these stadiums.
June 11th 2010 @ 12:34am
Midfielder said | June 11th 2010 @ 12:34am | Report comment
BF
There is a difference between winning and wanting the whole pie…
anyway who cares if the US beats Australia ….
June 11th 2010 @ 1:59am
Davidde Corran said | June 11th 2010 @ 1:59am | Report comment
I will reply to comments ASAP but for now here is the FFA press release which I just received announcing Australia is pulling out of 2018:
After several months of dialogue with FIFA and Members of its Executive Committee, FFA Chairman Frank Lowy, AC, and FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke have issued a joint statement today pertaining to Australia’s Bid for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) in a joint statement with FIFA, announced today that it will focus its bidding campaign on 2022.
The decision, which was coordinated with European Executive Committee Members, has been welcome by FIFA, whose CEO Jerome Valcke said: “The FFA and my office as well as the FIFA President have been in constant dialogue about Australia’s bidding intentions since last autumn.
“The FFA have displayed an exemplary level of solidarity with Europe and the European Bidding Nations and were among the very first to enter into an open and constructive dialogue with me after it became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 World Cup in Europe.
“Their announcement of today therefore, to henceforth focus solely on bidding for the 2022 World Cup, is a welcome gesture that is much appreciated by FIFA’s leadership and Executive Committee.
“We wish to thank Mr Lowy, the FFA and the Australian Government for allowing the 2018 vote to focus on a European bidding nation”.
Mr Lowy confirmed FFA’s decision to withdraw from the 2018 bid and concentrate on 2022.
“We have been in discussion with FIFA for months and it is that trusting relationship with the leadership of the governing body that has caused us to focus on 2022 and decide to leave the field for 2018 to European contenders.
“The FFA’s decision was in planning since October 2009 and its leadership, after careful consideration and analysis, has now decided to focus its bidding on 2022.”
June 11th 2010 @ 10:49am
Gweeds said | June 11th 2010 @ 10:49am | Report comment
from the Herald Sun:
“In a tactical masterstroke which saw FIFA take the rare step of publicly praising Australia for its “exemplary” conduct, Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy last night announced Australia would now concentrate solely on the 2022 World Cup to clear the path for Europe in 2018.
The move is a coup for two reasons: it has sidelined the United States, which is still bidding for 2018 and 2022, and won plaudits from Europe, which holds eight votes on the 24-member FIFA executive committee which selects the host nations.
Many or even all of those eight European committee members are expected to back Australia in 2022 – a massive voting bloc given that we need 13 votes to get over the line.
Australia is now tantalisingly close to securing a majority bloc, with strong support from Europe, the one vote from the Oceania group, and some votes from Africa where the FFA and Australian Government have been commended for their $500,000 poverty and education programs.
And while Asian support is patchy especially with Japan and South Korea mounting their own 2022 bid, the FFA is looking at bringing the region into our bid by staging World Cup friendly matches with our Asian neighbours, regardless of whether they have qualified for the finals.
The change in Australia’s position was announced via a very rare joint public statement between FIFA and Football Federation Australia.”
June 11th 2010 @ 3:27pm
Beast-A-Tron said | June 11th 2010 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
“Australia’s bid has been slipping ever since AFL boss Andrew Demetriou took, what I consider, the low road in protecting his football code.”
Look! It’s a dead horse! Kill it! KILL IT!!
Not once have I seen a rational cogent explanation as to how it is A.Demetriou’s fault for the bid’s current state, nor any rational arguement as to how it is any of his responsibility whatsoever. The agenda often reduces to pure bile and vitriol, with a healthy injection of sensationalism and loaded language a la Today Tonight/ACA, classy…
Whilst the author seems reasonably measured in this respect, a lot of the subsequent user commentary is exemplary of the aforementioned phenomena. You know who you are.
This point intrigues me, as a lot of soccer folk constantly demonise A.D., seemingly they frequently mistake his job as being the CEO of FFA. Wonder if they’ll ever realise that the FFA have a CEO and his name is Ben Buckley?
Perhaps said people are starting to recognise that there is no such thing as a free lunch in life?
Maybe I’m being too optimistic.
June 11th 2010 @ 4:58pm
Norm said | June 11th 2010 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
-”there is no such thing as a free lunch in life”…unlike the $45M that the NSW govt. is giving the AFL via redevelopment of GWS’ inner city home ground.
June 11th 2010 @ 5:06pm
Beaver Fever said | June 11th 2010 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
Oh Norman, everyone wil benifit from the showgrounds redevelopment, football, the RAS, cricket the rugby’s etc , everyone it appears beside a select few who persist with a anti- AFL agenda.
Just for the record Norman, “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.
June 11th 2010 @ 5:34pm
Norm said | June 11th 2010 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
-”Just for the record Norman, “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.”…Karmichael Hunt & Israel Folau know different.
June 11th 2010 @ 8:44pm
Beaver fever said | June 11th 2010 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
For the record, Hunt is playing for GC down in VIC tomorrow in the VFL which will be televised live and will bring in plenty of interested onlookers, as i said he will not be getting a free lunch, i think we all know there is no such thing.
BTW good luck to Hunt 2moro, he will need it.
June 11th 2010 @ 5:49pm
Australian Football said | June 11th 2010 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
“The RAS, cricket the rugby’s etc will benefit.” How come! That statement is made by someone who has no concept of what benefit means.. The codes you have mention will use the ground next door—they have no need for such a wasteful redevelopment. Gawd and what happens when the Royal Easter Show is in full swing—will the RAS be relocated at the SCG..? Demetriou must have a dirt file on every Australia politician. Australia’s answer to J. Edgar Hoover.
_____
AF
June 11th 2010 @ 5:39pm
ItsCalledFootball said | June 11th 2010 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
The minister who approved the Aussie Rules money for the showground has been sacked and is being investigated by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.
This is how they operate.
June 11th 2010 @ 9:07pm
Beaver fever said | June 11th 2010 @ 9:07pm | Report comment
Ask frank lowy ?