Somebody once said, what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger. There has never been a time more appropriate to adopt this mentality then now.
Despite the clear injustice of the World Cup hosting decision to both us and the United States, we must move on. If there has ever being a time to prove that football belongs in this country, it is now.
Throughout the coming weeks many people will take aim at our sport, claiming that it has no hope in this country and that the bid was a waste of money.
There would be no better way to prove them wrong than to turn out in droves to A-League football matches. It would be the best way for this nation to tell the Australian doubters and FIFA that football is loved in this nation, and forever will be, regardless of others actions.
My fellow Australian football fans, actions speak louder than words.
One of the hardest parts of this great disappointment will be all the so called ‘experts’ throughout the media who will use this failed bid as a springboard to criticise the entire game in this country.
Please, my fellow football fans, never believe that it was wrong of silly to have believed in having a World Cup in Australia, because it will happen. It took us three attempts to succeed in the bid to host of Sydney Olympics, nobody called that a waste of money.
Let’s keep bidding until we get the holy grail of international sport. 2026 is not too bad of a chance. When Qatar hosts the World Cup, that would take out an mainland Asian world Cup for the next couple of tournaments, we are a chance.
Let’s keep trying. Football in Australia has a future, and it is in our hands.
So if you are not a big A-League or football fan, the time to show your support is now. Let’s not get weighed down by this great injustice.
Let’s move on and continue to prove why football belongs in this country for many years to come.
Andyroo
Guest
882k World cup Final vs 272k Watched the extra time component of the A league grand final. So looks to be about an extra 60% (really 150% relative to our current numbers) of potential that we could attract by making the A league more accesible and getting people emotionally invested. I think the A league has done allright considering it's only on Fox.
Jasan
Guest
Of course football belongs in this country, it's just that there are FOUR codes of football that belong in this country. By exlusively claiming the term 'football' (Even though soccer is the least likely to be called football of the 3 in Australia) as your own, your isolating yourself from the majority of the sport-centric Australian population who may have attended a-league games if it wasn't for the hostility shown towards Australia's favourite codes.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
roarlover34 I'm with you all the way. My only comment would be: "Ok, football fans, it’s time to support the A-League." We don't need to appeal to people, who don't like our Game or don't understand our Game. What we need is a strong acceptance for the A-league across the football community. The 2 biggest spectator - both LIVE and on TV - sports in Australia are NRL & AFL. I would estimate that of 75-80% of the people, who love Aussie Rules and Rugby League, would regularly watch AFL and NRL respectively - i.e. they would regularly attend matches or watch it on TV. It's not 100% b/c some fans will always only support their local clubs rather than the big professional competitions. By contrast, I would estimate that the acceptance rate of the A-League is, perhaps, 3-5% (perhaps, it's even less) - i.e. only 3-5% of the people, who love football, regularly watch the A-League (live or on tv). So, the task for the FFA is to increase this acceptance rate. If the acceptance of the A-Leagure amongst football fans alone - I'm not including non-football fans - reaches even 50% that is 10-16 times current levels. I have no doubt it can be done, but it will take time - perhaps, at least a generation.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I am a little confused. "So if you are not a big A-League or football fan, the time to show your support is now. Let’s not get weighed down by this great injustice." If someone is not a fan, he or she will not be weighed down by the imaginary injustice and if I am not a fan then I am showing my support already by not attending. So I guess all is well with the world.
TPOTIW
Guest
I was speaking to a person woring in one of the sports betting markets and not sure if it was a joke or not, but they said there was going to be a market for when Lowy was going to pull his money out of Australian Football.
mahony
Guest
I agree. Melbourne Victory have never, ever played a game in Melbourne that I have not been at. Our game is too important to let apathy risk it. Get out there people. Viva football I say.