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Tonight at 8.30pm on the ABC, Four Corners explores Australia’s failed bid to host the football World Cup. With the final presentation of costs released last week, Football Federation Australia no doubt hopes the program closes the book on its most embarrassing chapter to date.
Last week it was revealed that FFA paid consultants a total of $6.72 million of taxpayers’ money, including a reputed $3.63 million to the Abold consultancy firm, for whom Fedor Radmann was the figurehead.
Radmann’s connection was arguably overshadowed by that of another controversial lobbyist, Peter Hargitay, whose close association with FFA chief Frank Lowy and FIFA Ethics Committee member Les Murray attracted close media scrutiny in the wash-up of the failed bid.
Whether Four Corners will reveal any new information in tonight’s exposé remains to be seen, but clearly the program has the potential to further embarrass an already chastened FFA.
A number of experienced journalists, including Ray Gatt of The Australian, have already alleged they were asked to withhold critical stories which could potentially hurt the World Cup bid.
Despite attempting to wield their considerable influence behind the scenes, FFA apparently saw no use in having one of their employees front the ABC cameras and deliver their side of the story to the Four Corners team.
That seems an odd decision when they have experienced media man Kyle Patterson at their disposal, who as we’ve all seen is a dab hand in front of a television camera.
One of Patterson’s former employers – Sydney’s cavernous ANZ Stadium – was the beneficiary of another curious FFA decision late last week.
The 83,500-capacity venue will host Australia’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Oman next month, where a Category A seat will cost fans the princely sum of $90.
The decision to host the fixture at the much-maligned ground is invariably the result of commercial agreements, however Socceroos fans should feel short-changed with the more compact Sydney Football Stadium lying just twenty kilometres down the road.
There’s no chance of a full house turning out for the clash – no disrespect to Oman intended – but it seems Socceroos supporters are viewed as little more than passive consumers in the eyes of the FFA, rather than a potentially crucial source of inspiration to the team.
It’s another decision by the FFA which I question, but there will nevertheless be Australian football fans who continue to back the game’s governing body to the hilt.
At times there’s almost a collective unwillingness to acknowledge the mistakes made by those in charge, making it harder for football to strengthen its position in Australian’s crowded and hyper-competitive sporting landscape.
That’s why tonight’s report could unmask some uncomfortable truths, as some of Australia’s most dogged investigative reporters try to uncover what went wrong with Australia’s doomed bid.
A best-case scenario would see the program fail to reveal any new information of substance and hopefully close the book on a noble but misguided chapter in Australian football history.
A much more damaging scenario might see new lines of inquiry open at a time when the powers that be are hoping to put the World Cup bid behind them and concentrate on hosting a critical new A-League campaign.