It was less than a fortnight ago when Sydney FC’s main supporter group, The Cove, staged a protest against its own club.
Angered over poor results and a perceived lack of direction within the club’s boardroom, fans chose their home clash with Adelaide as the arena to unfurl prominent banners calling for the sacking of head coach Frank Farina, as well as Chairman Scott Barlow and CEO Tony Pignata.
The subsequent response within Australia’s football media might have led some to believe that such a supporter backlash had never been seen in the sport in this country.
Social media sites were ablaze with intense discussion of the subject. Opinion pieces filled major newspapers.
On a football discussion program – aired on free-to-air television – the incident allowed for an entire segment being devoted to covering A-League fan issues.
Certainly, for a number of days, Sydney’s fan ‘revolt’ – as it was termed in various news reports – was one of the hottest topics in Australian football.
But was something not awry about all this media attention? Had there not been markedly similar fan protests recently in other parts of the country?
As many fans were quick to point out on Twitter, major issues between supporters and club have been taking place at Melbourne Victory all season, with barely a whimper heard in the mainstream press.
Two months ago, Melbourne Heart supporters staged a silent protest for the first half of their home fixture against Adelaide United. A mention or two from television commentators aside, the backlash again failed to receive anywhere near the same coverage as seen in Sydney last week.
Of course, it is not just Melbourne and Sydney that have been the site of supporter protests.
Ongoing problems between a section of Adelaide’s active fan-base and the club is one that springs to mind, as is the premature “Sack Mulvey” banner displayed by some of Brisbane’s faithful in earlier times.
Do these all amount to an example of Australian football’s unwavering obsession with all things Sydney? Or is there another explanation for the clear disparity in media coverage of what is, essentially, the same issue happening in different cities?
Stepping away from the reporting of fan issues, and there is a case to argue that there are other instances of Sydney receiving special treatment within Australian football.
In recent years, many fans across Australia have bemoaned the Harbour City virtually becoming the ‘home’ of the national team.
Since 2005, Sydney has hosted 16 Socceroos matches. Conversely, Perth and Adelaide have had just one each. Indeed, Perth – a city of almost two million people – has not seen a national team fixture since facing Indonesia nearly nine years ago.
Meanwhile, Fairfax Media revealed only last month the sport’s governing body in Australia is set to announce the format for the new FFA Cup, with 14 New South Wales sides expected to form part of a 32-team tournament.
Despite possessing superior participation numbers in comparison to other states, one must wonder if it is enough for New South Wales to lay claim to nearly half of the positions in what is meant to be a national tournament.
Much like the discrepancy in the hosting of Socceroos matches, NSW’s anticipated allocation stands in stark contrast to other areas of the country.
In Victoria, six teams are expected to gain entry to the final 32, while South Australia has just two spots available.
Given the nature of what appears to be clear evidence of the FFA putting Sydney on a pedestal, some punters have joked the governing body should be renamed the ‘Football Federation of Sydney’.
Keeping this in mind with the inconsistency in media reporting, perhaps it is time for more pressure to be placed on the appropriate parties in a bid to achieve fairer coverage and representation for all respective Australian cities.
Don't do it
Guest
The FFA Cup is meant to represent grassroots clubs right? Given that NSW has more registered players than all other states combined i.e. > 50% of the total participants, then if anything having 14 clubs causes NSW to be UNDERREPRESENTED. Just saying...
ZRock
Guest
A problem for the clubs not in NSW/QLD is the lack of suitable infrastructure. I've seen Sydney FC play games at Kogarah, Campbelltown and Paramatta, and the Wanderers could also play games at Penrith if they wanted. Perth doesn't have the luxury of multiple stadiums to choose from.
David Schulze
Guest
Yes Australian Football, the FFA and Foxtel are too Sydney centric in their view. lok at the number games being held in sydney, with the A-league annual game, the majority of WC qualifiers and Australian practice matches being held in the city. I know the FFA signed a deal with the NSW government, but it brings to question whether or not such a deal should have been signed in the first place, to the exclusion of the rest of the Australia I find Foxtel commentary to be very biased towards Sydney, it has always been the case. These organisations need to remember that Sydney only accounts for less than 1/4 of the population, and othe rplaces need to get a fair go
Da`
Roar Rookie
FFA is way to Sydney Centric. Their headquarters are in Sydney. The default location for any international is always Sydney. Journalism RE: the A-League is Sydney Centric, and reports more on Sydney-related things. A-League All-Stars happens in Sydney. The FFA Wanderers are located in Sydney, and 4/9 Australian A-League clubs are in NSW. Sydney/Newcastle is effectively the finals venue for the Asian Cup, even though a semi in Melbourne or Brisbane or Canberra would have made more sense than Newcastle. More crowds were available in Melbourne. 14 out of 32 FFA Cup spots going to NSW in a national comp is ridiculous. Sure, there are reasons for some of the above, but is obvious that football in Australia is, for now, too Sydney centric
alicesprings
Guest
That is some strange logic??!!! If soccer is to grow it needs exposure in other cities. Not rocket science!
RoarFan
Guest
They only got just over 6000 last night. That won't help their average any.
Towser
Guest
"People overseas only know about Sydney and Melbourne, and this isn’t healthy nor desirable." Maybe it isn't healthy or desirable ,but it's normal. Big cities around the world in any country attract all the attention. Why?,because they offer more opportunities. Migrants go to the big cities for work,country guys and gals also. Big Companies plonk themselves there,opera,plays,ballet,popstars all choose big cities ,because of the opportunity to pull in the punters in enough numbers to pay the bills. Same as football. Why choose Adelaide/Perth/Brisbane when you can pull in at least another 30,000 in Sydney or Melbourne,hence the A-League Allstars vs Whatever big club will always be in Sydney or Melbourne. In some respects I agree with you as far as football goes(spreading the luv is one) but whilst moolah rules the world so will big cities.
Arto
Guest
@ Kasey: Not everyone from Sydney is a "latte sipping w@anker"!!! Should I start calling people from Adelaide (you?) 'New Mexicans'??!! ;-) As for Rusty Woodger's main question, yes football in Aus is currently too centred on Sydney (& to a lesser degree Melbourne). As a Sydneysider I enjoy the current arrangement, but I'm not so naive that I don't realise that it's unfair & should be changed. Unfortunately, money talks in sports and most of the money that comes into the sport comes from the Eastern seaboard these days so until the FFA lets other factors have more of a say it's probably not going to happen...
ciudadmarron
Guest
It didnt have the competition and has nurtured a sycophantic press... And best run? Last year was brilliantly handled wasn't it...
ciudadmarron
Guest
Sbs' location is a factor. More access to the nsw clubs; makes sense. The rest is classic Melbourne parochialism at its finest. Eagerly aping hipsterism and faux-euro high society does not give you lot a monopoly on "culture"...
Adam Smith
Guest
We definitely need more big soccer games in the other cities like Adelaide and Perth and Brisbane. This means Socceroos matches and the like. It's almost always Sydney or Melbourne. It's this kind of bias that is causing so many people to come and live in these cities which are already way overpopulated. We need to raise the profile of these other cities we have. They need more big events (including other sports, music concerts etc) there and more tourism advertising. I'm from Sydney and really want to move to Perth. Some of my friends do also. Luckily they have soccer clubs. But Adelaide doesn't have Rugby League or Union club. Perth doesn't have a Rugby league club. These have to happen to bring more people in these cities, which in turn will lead to bigger soccer crowds and players there. People overseas only know about Sydney and Melbourne, and this isn't healthy nor desirable.
Roger
Guest
Answer is: yes. Is there justification for it? No.
alicesprings
Guest
Some good non-NSW news up here today..all i can say is about time! Alice is getting a HAL pre-season game!! Adelaide v Heart. More importantly United is launching a development program courtesy of $300,000 over two years from the territory government. Program to run from six locations. Also a deal struck to ensure that two spots on the Adelaide youth team are taken up by territories. Small steps.
AZ_RBB
Guest
True. Didn't realise Dubai and Perth were that well connected. But yeah, no doubt there should be more NT games in the western states.
Monopoly Man
Guest
Actually I came on an article about whether the FFA is too Sydney centric and gave my two cents? Hardly see that as feeling left out? Furthermore I am not from either (Sydney or Melbourne) but do see it as a point to be made. The code run out of Melbourne is easily the best run and always at the forefront. I don't think it's a coincidence. And as for your last point, the fact the code is only played in 1 country could well be down to the fact it was.. kind of.. Invented in this country? Just a thought..
Australian Rules
Guest
AZ, planes *can* actually go direct to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane :) - not every international flight must land in Sydney first. In fact, for European-based players, Dubai - Perth would be a much nicer option!
Ian
Guest
you came on a football article to say union, league, cricket, basketball etc are sydney focussed to pump up Melbourne. insecure much? feeling left out? coincidence that one sport is only played in Australia? I think not. sorry, but i couldn't resist.
AZ_RBB
Guest
A lot of that is dependent on how appealing Australia is for international teams. It's probably hard enough trying to get European based players to travel to Sydney, let alone then have to get another plane to Adelaide or Perth. World Cup qualifiers are fairly evenly spread across the eastern cities. Part of the consideration must include our own players travelling from Europe then having to get another lengthy flight across the country. How often would an A-League based team play an important game in Australia?
Australian Rules
Guest
"Lets face it, international teams would rather visit Sydney than outposts like Adelaide or Perth" - er, who gives a toss where international teams would "rather" visit? It's not a sightseeing tour. And even if that *was* a legitimate point (and it's not), wouldn't it be logical to play international fixtures where our opponents would rather *not* be? Isn't that what home advantage is all about? "these cities are paying the price for letting the AFL media dictate what sports are popular in those cities." - oh gawd. First, the "AFL media" bogeyman again...yawn. Second, why on earth should the media in Adelaide and Perth give more generous coverage to association football, when the FFA refuse to schedule any matches in those cities. Give them some Socceroos games, and hey presto, there's your glowing coverage right there. Third, "paying the price" suggests that the FFA is deliberately shunning Adelaide and Perth because they are "AFL towns". Again, if your logic is right (and it's not), the way to increase your footprint in a city is to shun it, rather than include it and give it some games. Fourth, the media doesn't "dictate" to the public which sports are popular, hundreds of years of culture and habit dictates which sports are popular.
AZ_RBB
Guest
FFA Cup offficial announcement on Monday at 11am. Probably will take place in Sydney :P