Like a lot of sports fans, I have re-engaged with football since the emergence of the A-League. For passionate football fans across Australia, I’m sure it has been a massive boost to their perceptions of the sports credibility and overall standing in the Australian sporting landscape.
Like a lot of people, I became a fan of my local A-League side, in my case Sydney FC. In the first two years, I attended almost every home game and sung in my loudest voice with the hardcore members of The Cove.
Like a lot of people however, it just didn’t ever quite feel right.
As my interest in the A-League has steadily waned, so too has my interest in overseas leagues. For some time I attributed this to superficial factors such as not having Foxtel installed or the arrival of my first child.
However, I have lately come to realise these were extraneous to the central, and in my case absolutely undeniable issue of values. Put simply, football does not promote values that many (but obviously not all) Australians like myself deem important.
I believe if football is to ever become the number one sport in Australia it will only do so if the very fabric of its value system is altered across the globe. That is, if the values displayed by football players (primarily) and its fans reflect those more attuned to the Australian fans sporting psyche; then football may indeed become our national sport. Until that happens, it will forever be third string.
So what am I referring to?
Well the most obvious one is the issue of diving, or “simulation” as FIFA and TV analysts like Craig Foster likes to call it (presumably this gives it a certain cache, that giving it a name makes it less damaging).
I have never met a football fan with a legitimate argument for this practice. It is under-handed, weak, cowardly and, to put it more simply, cheating. To Australian’s growing up with tough contact sports (rugby league, rugby union, AFL) this is an absolute affront.
To see a footballer throw himself (it is always himself. There is no diving in women’s football) on the ground after the most minor of contact when one is used to seeing massive collisions where players are, amazingly, able to stay on their feet looks pathetic and childish to the average rugby/AFL fan. It is becoming more widespread and presumably can only continue to do so. While it does, Australians will stay away in droves.
The faking of injury is perhaps even more horrid to the average Australian sports fan. Again, the heavy physical contact and brutal interplay on AFL/rugby fields means that the histrionics and childish play-acting many footballers indulge in after the slightest of bumps is just offensive to many.
There are so many examples of this that I need not bother citing specific ones. My point being that while Australians continue to see this overseas footage they will never take football seriously. Any responsible parent or coach would admonish a child for such behaviour, so to idolise men who do it for money (and lots of it) is just anathema to many in this part of the world.
Perhaps the ugliest thing that Australian sports fans see though is the intimidation of referees which, again, seems to be acceptable in football.
In no other sport anywhere is it acceptable for players to attempt to intimidate and physically assault an official. This is seen in most top-level fixtures and is the absolute opposite of what you are supposed to be taught as a youngster. You remember, “The referee is always right” and all that. As someone with a young child I cannot allow my child to watch that and think it is acceptable behaviour, because it obviously isn’t.
So what do all these examples point towards? Values – a sport that promotes duplicity and under-handed behaviour as a way of getting ahead. It promotes dishonesty. Simple.
Other sports in Australia have their inherent problems. That is obvious. Rugby league and AFL particularly have attracted headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years.
But, rightly or wrongly, these do not seem to be a problem for their fans. Why? Because it is about what happens on the field. And that is where football suffers. To many Australian sports fans, the behaviour of football players on the field is more damaging than the bad off-field behaviour of other codes.
This is what football administrators need to learn. Australians do not like to watch overpaid, prima donnas behave badly and be worshipped for it. This is especially true when one considers the inherent beauty of the game.
Football possesses fantastic qualities non-existent in other sports. But the poor values it chooses to promote will always be more visible than the fantastic skills of great players like Ronaldinho and Kaka.
There are obvious cultural differences that may inform a lot of this behaviour, but this is not the forum for that discussion.
To its credit, the culture of diving and duplicity has not infected the A-League or the Socceroos to any significant degree.
For this reason, I will continue to support our league and our team at the World Cup.
Betty B
Guest
proper cricket dyingMr Cheese? So how do you get a ticket to am ashes test when the games ae sold out a year in advance?
David V.
Guest
The McDonald's comparison is absurd. There are many foods and drinks you can get worldwide, but it always has a local twist. Like football.
David V.
Guest
I think one can validly argue that the A-League's biggest problem is not with winning fans from other codes, but winning fans who've been weaned on a diet of higher quality overseas football for generations. The club traditions are so embedded and coverage of such is so saturated in this day and age, it becomes difficult for a New Kid On The Block like the A-League to make a serious dent. The J-League and MLS have done so successfully though.
You What!?
Guest
You can get McDonald's pretty much everywhere in the world. Does that make it TheWorldFood? It is a great game at international level, because you play for where you were born. The club scene is just full of mercenaries, but it is a necessary evil I suppose.
True Tah
Guest
Drew boxing would be tougher than any football code or triathlon.
Drew
Guest
in soccer we suffer not as many breaks or fractures but more muscle and ligament tears. an average midfielder runs 14 km a game. that is a lot of running and a lot of time to do a muscle. if you think getting a hard hit in footy is strong then maybe you should try the physical fitness and agony of running 14km with a lot of sprints and turning. the toughest sports would easily be triathlons. more than anything. those guys are tougher than anyone. getting hit in a tackle is nothing compared to that
Drew
Guest
very well said, I'm glad to see not all league players are ignorant. Kudos mate.
Football fan
Guest
All codes have found times of hardship. the A-league and the future of football is guaranteed because it has supporter base. negative comments in the media are common because the traditional AFL/NRL supporters and media are worried- that is the only reason fro their continual criticism. We could comment all day about "values" in regards to AFL/NRL. What a crock. keep going Lowy and Buckley because they are rattled.
MV Dave
Guest
and so how many top level Sokkah games did yo play JF?? None? Real expert on Sokkah then?
Michael C
Roar Guru
I won't speak on behalf of RL, but the reason Australian Football is more popular where it is - dates back to the 1850s and 1860s when it was born and that it got in first, and evolved to suit local tastes rather than European winter climate/conditions. The papers in those early days barely covered the matches. The game built the following and the newspapers followed. There was no TV or radio to be seen, This returns to the 'historic roots' argument. There's no way soccer can compete as a cultural sporting entity in Vic, SA, WA on the domestic league level with Australian Football, just as there's no way a national AFL team can 'compare' with the Socceroos or Wallabies. So be it. Don't beat yourself up over it or try to blame it on external factors. It is as it is. That said. For the HAL to thrive during the summer (footy offseason) the fractured state of the game and the NSL baggage etc does seem to be holding it back far more than any 'code-wars' issues. The 'Euro snobbery' that is spoken of - - things like that. For DOMESTIC soccer (league) struggling for support in Australia......it first needs to illustrate, at the domestic level that the game is actually rated by people who follow soccer........because, if true 'soccer' fans rate it poorly, then why the heck should others 'flock' to the games???? or the papers cover it equally or above NRL/AFL???? mebbe the domestic league level is only ever supposed to be a development/feeder league for the 'big time' over in Europe.......or even in Japan??
MV Dave
Guest
err the only people that talk about AFL/NRL disappearing are those that dont want the tournament here...which tends to be the zealots from those codes.
True Tah
Guest
Billy what came first, the chicken or the egg...I think its a bit rich to simply attribute the success of RL and AFL within Australia simply to free to air coverage and newspapers and then argue that if futbol had this, it would be just as popular as either code. If that was the case, then the HAL would have the third biggest crowds in world futbol, behind the EPG and Bundesligua. As it is, the Queensland Reds playing in a sport with even less a profile than futbol draws averages crowds double that of the Roar. How do you explain this? Have you ever considered the fact that maybe it was the popularity of these sports that gave rise to said free to air and newspaper coverage? Im sure if futbol could rate as well as either, then FTA would be falling over themselves to get HAL. How does it rate on Pay TV? I also think you are glossing over the faults in futbol's past that may have contributed to the fact that NRL and AFL are more popular competitions, poor management and the predominance of monethnic clubs - however it is a lot easier to blame others than accept ones faults.
Billy McClure
Roar Rookie
The reason AFL and League are more popular has nothing to do with diving. Its the free to air coverage which comes with massive support from the newspapers. If football had prime time free to air coverage and a newspaper dedicated to covering everything about football then the A-League would be just as popular if not more as so many more people actually participate in the sport. Also all the football teams are only a few years old, the A-league is hardly a 100 year old competition which has built a culture and history for the clubs. If anything the football community is still divided from many older fans from the old NSL days. If AFL or League had no free to air coverage and no media backing like the A-league, would they survive and do as well as some of the A-league clubs? League was getting 8 page liftouts for preseason football at the same time A-league was getting 1/4 of a page for finals football in the sydney papers. I think AFL would survive within Victoria, I would be worried about league as many clubs are already struggling with finacial issues with poor crowds and lossing the income from pokies. QLD teams would survive and maybe a couple from NSW if they merged.
Black Diamonds
Guest
Where has it ever been claimed that the AFL/NRL will disappear if we get the FIFA WC? What a joke. Sure - FIFA might like them to disappear for a few months to give the World Cup 'clear air' - but by what rights do FIFA seek to impose a form of sporting "autocracy" upon our culture?
Black Diamonds
Guest
You have clearly never watched must golf, or indeed team golf if you want to specify "teams"
JF
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biRQZVpnCvI I am just trembling at the thought of taking the field with these hard men! RFLMAO!
punter
Guest
Wow JF, I think it's you with no idea. have you ever played a game of football, try going for a header with a centre back like John Terry with his elbow aimed at your your nose. Try going into a tackle with your feet with a un-cordinated defender whose attitude, it doesn't matter if I miss the ball at least I stopped the man. Have a look at the keepers that dive at someone's feet as they are about to kick it. I don't think you would put your feet where someone like Timmy Cahill his head. Man you have no idea, football is tough, not as tough as any of the Rugbys but it's tough.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
JF At any decent level you wouldn't touch the ball without some courage. And you would be useless if you had no physical pressence over the ball. Compared to the batsmen friendly pitches Cricketers play on now I don't see any huge disparity. Edit: You sound like the VFL guys that challenged the Soccer guys to a match...before they played.
JF
Guest
You are totally missing the point Rob, broken bones happen in many non-contact sports it is an accepted risk of playing sport, and yes it hurts. Contact sport is something completely different, something that 'footballers' have no idea about. Cricket too, although you wouldn't describe as a 'contact' sport, requires immense toughness, think about the Australian cricketers of the 80's, facing the new ball with 4 fresh West Indian quicks trying to knock your head off. When you get hit - the bowler does not receive a yellow card, he simply walks back to his mark and tries to hit you again, batsmen show unbelievable mental and physical hardness to deal with such an attack. Rick McCosker came back out to bat after having his jaw broken by a Bob Willis bouncer, he came back out to help Rod Marsh score his century. Football can lay claim to many things, but toughness is not one of them.
You make a point Michael about 'prepared' contact. II don't think that it makes either sport necessarily tougher (not that you can quantify 'toughness'). The difference I think is in injuries: RL has more bone fractures and breaks Football has more ligament, tissue and joint damage Soccer I would presume to have more ankle/foot injuries.