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Code rivals AFL and NRL weren’t about to dance on Australian football World Cup grave on Friday but they weren’t shedding tears either.
Both Australian rules and rugby league had most to lose from Football Federation Australia’s bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and their reactions told the story.
Tellingly, the AFL and NRL similarly responded to the FFA’s failure with brief one-sentence statements.
“There’s no doubt they put in a big effort and backed our country on the world stage but it wasn’t to be,” said NRL communications director John Brady, who would not comment further.
Like the NRL, the AFL also kept most of their feelings to themselves.
“It’s disappointing for Australia the bid to host the FIFA World Cup was unsuccessful as our country has a great record of presenting world-class events,” said AFL spokesman Patrick Keane.
The decision to award the quadrennial tournament to Qatar at least saves Australia’s other football codes any disruption to their 2022 seasons.
The World Cup would have commandeered key stadia, forcing more matches to regional areas and smaller suburban grounds in the middle of the premiership campaigns.
But on the flip side, it would have also provided their respective competitions with bigger, more modern venues as Adelaide Oval, Geelong’s Skilled Stadium, Newcastle’s Energy Australia Stadium, Townsville’s Dairy Farmers Stadium were all set for upgrades.
There’s now strong doubts over those occurring as well as new venues in Perth and Western Sydney.
The Australian Rugby Union, which held a successful 2003 World Cup, had planned to play most of their Test and Super Rugby matches off shore, but were more sympathetic to the FFA’s lost cause.
“The World Cup would have been beneficial to Australia and Australian sport and we frequently acknowledged the potential positivity it could have brought from a national perspective,” said an ARU spokesman.
Unsurprisingly, the major rival sport to show most disappointment was Australia’s No.1 summer game, cricket.
“Cricket Australia were really deflated this morning as we were an enthusiastic supporter of Australia’s bid,” said CA public affairs general manager Peter Young.
“Australia would have showcased a FIFA World Cup brilliantly.
“It would have reflected well on Australian sport and would have encouraged kids off the couch to try and emulate their heroes.
“As Australian and New Zealand are co-hosting the 2015 Cricket World Cup it would have been a magic double.”
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