AFL, NRL shutdown threat a media beat-up

When you say the Leagues should subsidise games being played in rural settings - surely you're no talking of the AFL/NRL are you? Surely you mean the FFA? Given they are the ones benefiting and they are also the ones demanding these alterations? Can you clarify. What many seem to forget is that it is not a one-off disruption the FFA are demanding - it is a two-year disruption. There is a little World Cup warm-up thing called the Confederations Cup. That would likely involve shunting the AFL/NRL off the MCG & ANZ Stadium for 4 weeks (& possibly Suncorp Stadium as well) in either 2017 or 2021. Surprised no one has picked up on this!

The AFL will happily do that - as long as they are generously compensated for losing both the MCG and the Dome for one third of the footy season.

What a perfect opportunity to take the NRL and AFL to the rural crowds... The Leagues should provide subsidies to any of the teams unable to use their home grounds during this period and help them to take their home games to other stadiums that wouldn't otherwise get a game.... Mackay, Rockhampton, Mt Isa, Darwin (unless the World Cup goes there), Alice Springs, Geraldton, Broome. Places out in the bush that play these games, would love to host a game or three during this 8 week stretch... Can you imagine the financial boost it would give those towns, as well as the obvious benefits of having the top players mingling in their towns and communities... Might even see a regular pilgramage happening... some of the clubs might start to do it themselves... go bush for a home game or two every season...

likewise Docklands often has had soccer, RL and AFL on the same weekend. But, FIFA want pristine pitches not dug up by heathen codes, and want permanent and exclusive signage etc, so, that inbetween events the venues are 'FIFA WC venues' at ALL times, as, a lot of tourists will be flocking around - presumably......and FIFA assume that people can't separate in their minds the sponsors of the FIFA event as distinct to the sponsors of someone elses event......you can understand that, but, that they not just seek it but demand it is a clue as to their level of hegemony over the host cities.

I don't really see what all the fuss is about. Subiaco Oval regulaly hosts Super 14 Rugby and AFL on consecutive days. The ground is simply reconfiguered overnight with all sponsor signs, goals, ground markings being changed overnight. I think any drama would be more about overloaded tourist facilities, not permanent residents attending their usual sports. For Rugby it is easy, they'll just play in New Zealand or South Africa for a few weeks if they have to. The AFL and NRL can't do that of course.

Here's the rub -- a lot of us don't want to play with these big boys, or at least not under these terms. This is a FFA bid. This is shown by the fact that the other rival codes have NOT agreed to the FIFA stipulation. (In the AFL/NRL cases, they may not be able to afford to a two-month lockout unless compensation is offered.) If FFA wants to bid for the WC, they need to get them on board quickly!

in a sense by the continent of South AMerica that saw only one real bid for the 2014 WC.....Blatter still went thru the motions of announcing "And the winner is.......the sole bidder"

If you want to play with the big boys, then adhere to FIFA regulation or do not attempt to win the bid to host the second biggest sporting event in the world!

Actually it's the US bid committee that thinks that - serious economists know these sorts of benefits statements are pretty much nonsense.

The fact is that if FFA wants to host the WC, it HAS to secure the agreement of the other codes. That's a stipulation of the bidding process. As a rugby union fan, I would not be prepared to accept a two-month break from my game just to suit the interests of FIFA. Who do they think they are anyway? On a personal level, I can say that, as a Fijian, FIFA has done NOTHING for my homeland. Therefore I owe them NOTHING. I reckon FIFA might find it refreshing to be told to go jump in the lake!! When do you reckon was the last time they were told that!??

Tokyo. $$$$$$$$$$$

Oh please, architects 'dont make these blunders'? They stuffed up the designs of Wembley stadium.

No but if Qatar don't care about the prerequisites than why are we making such a fuss about them?

Freud please - I don't think we are going to pick up credibility over night simply by comparing ourselves to Qatar!!

This would be great for Soccer Australia if we hosted the World Cup though I think I will be a very old man before this ever occurs. It will be an awesome advertisement of the sport to followers of other codes (even if only for a couple of months)and it will be hard for everyone not to get caught up in the euphoria of the fans. My wish is that that the whole of Australia can participate in this event and it is not just the major cities that get involved. I reckon this WC would be truelly awesome. Alot of people dont realise how people view our country overseas and neither did I till I travelled and met people in other continents and you really get to appreciate what a truelly amazing and unique country we live in. This is a blip in the other codes schedule and I see no argument why they would not want to participate. If its about money well they can all go get stuffed - this would be automatic qualification with an entire nation behind them egging them on in our country wearing our colours. If you want to cloud that with arguments of who is not getting their share of the pie,well...you can take a long walk off a short pier.

"Australia has some distinct advantages and the biggest is that it’s the last continent that hasn’t hosted a WC." Totally False! Sorry, couldn't read the rest of your post after reading this whopper! Haven't you heard of Asia mate - Austalia is a signed up member of the Asian Region. Can't see that "last continent" bit getting NZ a Soccer World Cup anytime soon! Laughable notion mate!

Pip, again, you're being totally negative. Build two more stadiums in Melbourne like Docklands with movable seating, that would mean for the WC they would be football stadiums and after the WC they could be used for AFL. The same goes in Sydney. It is big enough to host 3 stadiums (there's one more to your list). Perth could possibly be the same as it continues to expand at a rate of knots, if the AFL expands there another stadium will be required. Either way we should ignore these FIFA prerequisites, if FIFA want to bring a WC to Australia these won't be any sort of problem. If you think we have problems then look at Qatar, do you think they care that they don't have enough people or huge stadiums?

Are you sure Etihad is a WC stadium? Correct me if I am wrong but under FIFA guidelines, only one city may use two stadiums. Since they clearly prefer purpose built rectangle stadiums its unlikely the bid would use the MCG and Etihad. More likely SFS and ANZ stadium in which case Etihad is free for AFL in the 4 weeks up to the Cup. Then during the cup they can play at regional centres and expansion areas, so the comp can continue. Minimal disruption to player training and match fitness... meh I ain't very knowledgeable when it comes to football Anyways it just occured to me that Origin would clash with any WC. Now that is a different monster altogether...

Yes, some very good points which people should focus on rather than AFL/NRL seasons being interrupted.