“Football is not a matter of life and death,” said Bill Shankly. “It is much more important than that.” He was wrong, of course. It’s simply part of the entertainment business.
The most revealing aspect of Shankly’s quote is how thoroughly it’s been taken out of context over the years.
Referencing the friendly rivalry between Liverpool and Everton fans, here’s what the legendary former Reds manager actually said in full.
“I am not saying they love each other. Oh, no. Football is not a matter of life and death… it’s much more important than that. And it’s more important to them than that. But I’ve never seen a fight at a derby game. Shouting and bawling… yes. But they don’t fight each other. And that says a lot for them.”
So an oft-repeated quip about the “life and death” importance of football is really about how supporters of two clubs from the same town get along reasonably well.
Talk about your mixed messages. It’s an apt metaphor for how the A-League is going – decent football, dodgy administration.
What’s the biggest story in Australian football right now? Is it table-toppers Sydney FC meeting moneybags Melbourne City at Allianz Stadium tonight?
Is it Brisbane Roar taking on Melbourne Victory in what is at least the 40th competitive meeting between the two sides at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday?
Or is it Football Federation Australia allegedly tapping up Sky Blues coach Graham Arnold for the Socceroos role – a move which prompted Sydney FC chief executive Danny Townsend to write about Arnold on Twitter, “He is a contracted coach and it is clear our priority is to keep him”.
Ah yes, the FFA. It wouldn’t be an average week in Australian football if we didn’t talk about their influence on the game.
It says much about the way head office runs things that no one seems to find it problematic when clubs like Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory are rewarded for domestic success by potentially having their head coach spirited away midway through the season.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
And perhaps that’s as it should be. After all, the World Cup is bigger than the A-League, is it not?
But if the governing body that controls the A-League can only treat it as an afterthought, then why should they expect anyone else to view it differently?
Hang on a second! Let’s take stock here.
Haven’t I criticised the FFA enough? Shouldn’t I acknowledge that running a football competition is hard, that finances are tight and that everyone involved has the best of intentions?
Wouldn’t it be better if I just didn’t comment on any of this negativity at all?
Yeah, nah.
Because the A-League is part of the entertainment business, and right now we’re so focused on governance, very few of us are being entertained by any actual football.
It’s why Alex Brosque roasted the FFA over lacklustre attendances. It’s why Townsend pinpoints “scheduling/fixtures” as the number one reason Sydney FC can’t get more fans through the gate.
It’s why the biggest stories are always about coaches and Congresses, but rarely about action on the pitch.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
“Write about the football!” say readers in the comments section. But then when anyone does, no one comments on it.
You don’t want to talk about the football. You want to talk about the big topics.
Right now, those topics are around governance and who will coach the Socceroos.
And that’s a problem for the FFA, because despite their (mis)handling of both the Congress and the national team coaching position, we should really be talking about what’s happening on the pitch.
I’ll be at the Roar game on Sunday, despite the fact I’ve now seen this same fixture more times than any other game.
The A-League is stale. It needs expansion teams.
It needs to get back to what it’s supposed to be doing – entertaining us.
And it needs us not to turn a blind eye, but to keep speaking the truth. Because football belongs to all of us. Not just the FFA.
Cool N Cold
Guest
Yeah! I like "Same old Clubs (no Pro/Rel) Same old Players (where are the exciting new faces coming through) Same old Refs (No improvement) Same old Admin (word Monopoly mean anything) Same ol Commentators (more opinions than commentary) Boring! And prices just keep going up????"
Jordan
Guest
I am a Brisbane fan and go to every game, but this season I am far less excited to do so. Results aside, the football the Roar are playing is not entertaining to watch in large chunks of most games so far this season.
Worried
Guest
Mike Tuckerman you said Football is "simply part of the entertainment business" IF you believe that then you are as much a part of the problem as Lowy & Co. IT IS A SPORT! And if you cannot tell the difference, therein lies the problem. The entertainment industry would love to be able to get the same, thousands of people to turn up week after week to see the same performance. There is not the ownership in the entertainment industry thats in Sport. Do they compete ABSOLUTELY, Are the the same NO NO NO! Without the fans Football is nothing! Yet the Fans are always the last to be asked what they want, IF at all. Head office keep telling us this is what we want - well numbers would suggest IT'S NOT! Same old Clubs (no Pro/Rel) Same old Players (where are the exciting new faces coming through) Same old Refs (No improvement) Same old Admin (word Monopoly mean anything) Same ol Commentators (more opinions than commentary) Boring! And prices just keep going up????
Redondo
Guest
I bet there’s a mad scramble to sit next to you at the office Christmas lunch
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Fri Aleague - Sydney FC v Melbourne City - Crowd: 10,688 at Allianz Stadium Maybe my prediction of ending the season with an 11k average attendance is a tough optimistic?
lesterlike
Guest
The days of Del Piero just prove that dumping a half retired 38 year old in your team is a great way to nuke your own season.
Jarren
Guest
Well, you should try Australian Unity Fast Footy, you will not want to bother with A league again. Problem solved.
punter
Guest
PH above says it all mate.
Kossie
Guest
Ok. So you are 1 of approximately 1000 spread across a few online forums, who is likely a fan of 1 of the 10 current clubs, who has stopped going to 1 of the 5 games each weekend, in this particular season! You probably represent about 5 empty seats in a stadium! As pro/rel has never existed and the finals system has always been in place in my lifetime I can assume you have not been to an NSL or A-league game. Nemesis has a name for posters like yourself!
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
valhalla I can offer a broad analysis. Season One attendances averaged at around 11k (which is pretty good for a debut year). I predict that this season's average is going to fall on that very same number, or close enough. By the end of this 13th season, we will be able to say that average attendances are precisely where they were in in the very first season. But, there are two more teams now and about 50 more games are played, so equalling average attendances of the very first season remains a good achievement. Ratings would be much higher these days, ratings were so low in that first season than there is actually no record of what they were. These days they bobble around an average of 60k per game (on Fox). This year represents the very first season the A-League has been telecast on commercial FTA, and in what must be a world first, ratings have actually dipped below what they were on the special public broadcaster which normally no one watches (other than Vikings).
Kenneth
Guest
Why is it sad the MLS is flooded with marquee players and it's going gangbusters .it does work . All you purists don't understand Australia is spoilt for choice when it comes to sport so much on offer just like USA so therefore fans need a bit of a nudge to attend a game then provide it . This is not Europe where one football code rules and it never will be.so whatever it takes to get bums on seats is good enough for me.the days of Del Piero is proof that it works ,now for the FFA they need to get their act together because it's their inannactions that have stalled the A league in this country .expansion to Fourteen teams as a minimum is a must do now not later. No more Sydney or Melbourne teams we need new additions from new cities it's about expansion of the game not concentration in Sydney amd Melbourne .
Ian
Guest
No of course I didn't think you would consider his on-field behaviour to reflect off-field. Unless there was good reason. Applies to Berisha the same, especially in his Brisbane days - many non-Roar supporters have their opinion of a player, and him, but meeting him at training sessions and having photos with kids and fans he is the polar opposite of what happens on the field.
Nick Symonds
Guest
JUST REALIZED SOMETHING - TV DEALS COMPARED A-League - $346 million over six years (2016-2023) = $57.6 million a year Big Bash Cricket - $100 million over five years (2013–2017) = $20 million a year If 10 lose the BBL to 9 there's $20 million a year they could put into the A-League. Interesting...
AR
Guest
“For me, watching football is not, has not, never will be, “part of the entertainment business”.” Not even Star Wars Round?
Kangajets
Guest
Mike Brighten up a bit Sydney v city tonight And Newcastle v Adelaide tomorrow That’s the top 4 in action Watch the gsmes and write about the gsmes on Monday , tell me about the best and worst of the gsmes . Go on , I dare you to just write about on field action . Up to you mike Cheers
AR
Guest
punter, I’m not sure you understand what irony means. Mike said people mostly comment on crisis/scandal articles. I agreed with him and I posted. Then you posted. Wait...maybe you *do* understand irony! Well done !
Fadida
Guest
Out of interest, do FFA set the food prices?
Fadida
Guest
Agree again Fuss
Fadida
Guest
The consortiums coming forward seem to think they can fund themselves. A second division, now there's something that I've yet to see explained as a financial possibility. For the record I also think it is time to expand. FFA have fallen sleep at the wheel on this one. There should be a plan, publically announced, in place by now.
not so super
Guest
so in terms of world football absolute chicken feed. go back to writing crazy expansion articles