- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
Marcus Rashford may not have the level of fandom associated to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but he is still very well known.
The forward plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world, Manchester United – where he has scored over 50 goals and earns over 240,000 pounds a week.
Rashford has also scored over a dozen goals for the England National team as well as receiving an MBE for his commendable campaign, to support vulnerable children in England.
With Australia’s winter football festival in full swing, fans of the round ball game have been left infuriated due to the superstar’s recent media duties whilst in Australia.
Rashford was front in centre, smiling in a photo with several Melbourne based sports teams – which seems standard protocol for a visiting star on media duties in Australia,
There were players from AFL, rugby, cricket, hockey, netball and even baseball present – but where were the football players?
None of the Melbourne based A-League men’s or women’s sides were anywhere to be seen, there was zero representation from the professional sport in Victoria.
The last truly global superstar from a different sport, with the exception of Usain Bolt – that showed any respect to Australian football on a visit was F1 legend, Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher is a lifelong fan of FC Koln and spent time with NSL side South Melbourne in the 90s – Where he took part in training as well as some trial matches
Rashford will wear no blame in this indiscretion and nor should he – after all he is following Manchester United’s obligations when it comes to the media.
Engaging and polite as Rashford was, I’m sure internally he may have been asking the same questions as myself – why am I holding this weird egg-shaped ball?
Rashford wasn’t the only bemused one, as I’ve lived in Australia the majority of my life and still don’t understand AFL as a sport and its popularity.
I’ve never been to a match, seen a game on tv or even kicked a ball before –watching paint dry or mowing the front lawn is more entertaining to me.
The Victoria government is responsible for bringing Manchester United down under, but one of the stipulations that should’ve been enforced – was no form of cross promotion with rival codes.
Every year though for as long as I can remember, when a visiting European football team comes to Australia – there always seems to be the obligatory photo with other codes.
Besides the fact it’s cringeworthy, it’s incredibly disrespectful and distasteful to football in Australia.
How many fans of the rival codes that took part in the photo, would even know who Marcus Rashford is or what sport he plays – if not for his Manchester United clothing?
Another promotional photo saw Rashford posing just with the AFL ball, like he had switched codes – maybe there’ll be a photo of him showing players how to kick the ball or trying to inspire the next indigenous child in remote Australia to play AFL.
The last thing Australian football needed, was to give free publicity to rival codes – Especially one like the AFL; which has never been a friend.
Who can forget how destructive the AFL was to Australia’s bid in 2009 to host the biggest and most watched tournament in the world – the world cup.
When their CEO at the time, refused to cooperate in terms of allowing access to grounds should Australia win the once in a lifetime right to the tournament.
The FA and APL have been very quiet in the Rashford faux par, which is the latest addition in a season that was blighted with off field mistakes by the game governing body.
Australian football needs to put its foot down, when it comes to benefitting other codes – codes which have done everything possible, to make them feel like the outcast in Australian sporting circles.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.