With metaphorical glove in hand and a brisk back-handed slap across the face of Football Federation Australia, Clive Palmer has continued his warring words against Ben Buckley and the powers that be by issuing a most bizarre challenge.
Not a challenge in fact, but a bet.
The Olyroos versus the Gold Coast United youth team for a one-off prize of $50,000 in cold hard cash. So will the FFA play along?
He knows how to ruffle some feathers that Clive Palmer doesn’t he?
Providing as much salacious entertainment as the political tussle that’s unfolding concurrently in Australian parliament, Palmer is on a one-man football mission to shake up the system.
However his method, in this case at least, is questionable.
Australia may have failed to qualify for the Olympics in both mens and womens football, but like often discussed suggestions for top European clubs to play our Socceroos in an exhibition match, what could be more insulting to Australian football than this?
A youth league team (albeit a relatively successful youth team) playing our underachieving Under 23 national team. And for cash?
Hell, while we’re at it let’s get rid of the Hyundai banner at halftime and make it a giant roulette wheel. Or how about we all yell “blackjack” when more than 21 people turn up to Skilled Park? Maybe, every time the ref blows his whistle for a foul, that team’s substitutes have to drink? And surely the losing team’s coach should do a nuddy run around the pitch!
But really. That’s how ridiculous this whole idea is.
To prove what?
So Clive Palmer can prove his club has plenty of youth talent? WE ALREADY KNOW THAT CLIVE! There’s much respect for the amazing prodigies that take to the pitch in the blue and gold. It’s been widely written.
This bet, and that’s exactly what it is, spits in the face of professionalism and the honour of representing your country in the green and gold. There won’t be anything to take out of this for the Olyroos involved. Would it even count as a cap?
And if they lose? Well Clive you would have successfully dragged the green and gold through the mud, and publicly humiliated the players, coaches and staff involved. Talk about a “national embarrassment”.
Though parents often resort to shaming their children into submission in order to teach them a lesson, professional football doesn’t work that way, Clive.
Players are not disposable pawns to be utilised at will in your masterplan to cause change in the FFA.
Like wearing the “Come Play” scarf from the 2022 Australian World Cup Bid, this is yet another example of Palmer’s naivety and lack of understanding when it comes to professional football.
It is true that in Palmer’s rant on The World Game earlier this week he raised some very valid points worth addressing, but this Olyroos versus Gold Coast United proposal is beyond a joke and not the way to instigate change.
And unless Ben Buckley and the FFA head honchos are partaking in the mass consumption of some mind-altering happy juice, I highly doubt they will entertain the idea.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Interview between Archie Fraser and SEN radio from earlier today: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-24/interview-archie-fraser/3850840?section=sport Asked Archie about 1,100 turning up mid week to GCU game. Francis Leach asked Archie about a possible separation between A-League and FFA. Archie says it will eventually happen, but it needs ok from FFA. Biggest concern for all the owners is if there is no substantial increase in the TV rights, the owners will all be left high and dry with big annual losses. So many decisions from FFA last few years have not worked out, and owners have had no say in any of that, even though they are the ones putting up the money. A lot of conflicting priorities, including expense of maintaining so many NTs, owners feel they shouldn't be paying for that. The only way they can get the license back off Clive would be to pay him out for last two years of license. Is there a cultural problem at FFA? Fraser: more a competency problem, failure on BB's part, has not delivered, quality of league on field has gone up, but quality of league off the field has not. West Sydney should have been on expansion plans before Townsville and gold coast, was meant to go in at same time as Heart, FFA's selection of the WS bid ended up falling over, bid was awarded on basis of very little substance, poor decision making process, once again, selection process appears to be based on tapping a millionaire on the shoulder. Succession planning beyond Lowy? no one wants to upset him, so good processes have not been put in place for life beyond Lowy. Archie feels we have to judge Lowy on last 12 months, and conclusion is that FFA needs change. Leadership has been silent since failed WC bid.
Roarchild
Guest
I guess maybe I'm being harsh on Foz because he did play during the Venebles/Portsmouth/Palace era so maybe he didn't feel he could say anything. But that complaint sounds like Palmer just grabbed it from an internet forum.... in 1995
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Roarchild your assessment of Fozz being weak in that interview is spot on. Let us not forget, the context of getting Clive on was to ask him about his extremely disrespectful and disparaging comment about the game, and Fozz made it clear up front that that's what he's going to pursue. Clive immediately says: no, no, no, no - I wasn't talking about the game, when I said it's a hopeless game, I meant the FFA is hopeless. Fozz: oh, you meant the FFA? well, that's all right then!! and proceeded to allow him to say one absurd thing after another, including the bit about Socceroo selection being based on kick backs, and in fact, Clive even said to them, you've been there, you guys know what it's like - and Fozz said nothing! (maybe Fozz knows something we don't know) And then the day after, Fozz tweeted that everything Clive said was valid - huh??!! I'm living an alternative reality.
Roarchild
Guest
Cheers Melanie I do miss my Ned Zelic fix but I'm a bit of a newb in regards to proxies and I would be terrified of accidently leaving it on as that would get me banned from the service I use to watch A league games. Sounds like the interview would have just made me angry anyway but I might try and get a more knowledgeable friend to give me the low down on what I have to do. There are some things on Fox Sports like the live Socceroo's squad announcements and ABC I view which interest me.
Kazama
Roar Guru
Agree, he clearly wore it to make a point. He's not that stupid.
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
Hi Roarchild, try using an Australian website proxy to access World Game. That shouldn't be geo blocked then...
Roarchild
Guest
Didn't see the actual interview as the World Game is geo blocked where I live ... the irony. I thought I was fully up to speed on the Palmer interview from the millions of articles on the topic but I listened to the latest 442 podcast. They said Palmer claimed the Socceroos team was picked based on kick backs and former Socceroos Zdrillic and Foster just copped that and didn't intervene. Foster who is always banging on about pride in the jersey and the honour of representing Australia..... just copped that because it suited his "bash the FFA" agenda. Weak.
MG
Guest
I took Clive wearing the "Come Play" World Cup Bid Scarf as a dig at the FFA. A prop to remind viewers of the big stuff up that was the World Cup Bid.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
This is hot on the tails of Clive's soccer state of origin idea. I just don't understand why the FFA haven't handed over the reins already.