Can everyone just relax about the World Cup bid

albe says:

05:29am | 10/12/09

the hyperbole from the AFL chiefs has been a little embarrassing for them, especially as it may work in the bids favour. FIFA does like to award the finals to places where it will make an impact, and added to Australia’s favourable time zone for Asia, will make for a good case for our bid team to put forward. Along with plenty of other factors.

2018 is absolutely a no-go… good to bid though for strategic reasons. But for me ‘22 is very realistic… Europe for ‘18 is fair but the next one would go to a nation where it will have some development legacy for the game. Australia fits the bill.

The cup will leave a great legacy for this nation beyond sport and the economy.

S.L says:

05:55am | 10/12/09

“Until soccer is really played by Australian kids from dawn till dusk the way it is in Rome or Rio your not going to challenge the dominance of Aussie rules or Rugby league in this country.” The biggest load of rubbish I’ve read in the Punch so far! Statistics say soccer (for the sake of the argument I’ll call it Soccer) has more registered players in this country than all the other codes combined. Being from NSW 2 districts I know well, Penrith and the Central Coast are both considered by the heirarchy of league as their heartland with Western Sydney spruiked as the biggest league nursery in the world. Funny thing is league players are outnumbered by soccer players by 3 to 1 plus in both areas (and I believe it’s a similar scenario down south for AFL) so sure the “big 2” codes really dominate at the grass roots? The A league needs free to air TV to reach a wider audience although I will commend foxtels coverage. It’s a shame the comercial networks are so financially tied up with AFL and League that another successful sport would potentially cost them tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars if it started to rate well. In saying that I agree with you Leo that Tim Cahill will be an octogenerian if or when we get the World Cup. But not for the want of trying!

Andrew Lewis says:

07:51am | 10/12/09

I’m surprised you didn’t attribute Demetriou’s comments to some sort of latent AFL racism.

noel says:

07:54am | 10/12/09

I think it’s ....fair…. what the AFL and NRL are doing.

Maybe it’s not good but it’s fair. They have a business to run, a game to protect and fans to answer to.

Tim says:

08:06am | 10/12/09

I’d be more disappointed if the AFL and NRL weren’t kicking up a stink about this. Its their jobs to look after the respective codes.
I think most people would all for the World Cup to come to Australia but only if it doesn’t significantly affect the main local codes.
I’m sure something acceptable to everyone can be worked out but FFA have been nothing more than extremely arrogant in their dealings with the other codes.
Their seeming sense of entitlement that everyone will just roll over for them, (don’t you know that we’re the world game?), has been rather pathetic.

Davo from St Kilda says:

08:16am | 10/12/09

@ S.L. ‘soccer has more registered players in this country than all the other codes combined’. Huh? AFL has 700,000 registered players nationally, followed by soccer with 400,000, and rugby less than 200,000. I won’t embarrass you by comparing football and soccer crowd numbers, club membership totals or TV rights payments. Soccer is a niche sport which cannot win the hearts and minds of sports lovers. When games typically end in a 0-0 result, you can’t expect people to turn up in the same numbers that we get at football (yes, that’s right - there is only ONE sport in Australia called football).

I hope that we don’t get the World Cup as it will disrupt the footy season. I’d rather be at a packed ‘G watching the greatest sporting team in the land, the Mighty Blues. My team. That’s passion. Obviously people from Sydney would rather see Paraguay play a scoreless draw against Cameroon than watch the rugger buggers throw a ball backwards.

Peter says:

08:22am | 10/12/09

First measured piece about the WC bid all week

I’m all about a parochial Herald Sun campaign – in fact, I love it when the they get up in someone’s grill more than anyone – but this is teetering on ridiculous

All that said – if that monolithic stadium in Western Sydney were to get the final over the MCG it would be a travesty. You can’t buy soul with a roof.

Matt says:

08:37am | 10/12/09

Dennis Cometti sums it up best

‘‘In Australia I’m tired of having the game broadcast to me by zealots. To hear them tell it, there’s never been a match that sucked. Furthermore I don’t like being told what I shall call a game. You will call it football. Well, no. I get confused enough already these days. Let’s just stick with soccer. Then of course there’s that term ‘The World Game’, which is designed to let you know you’re a moron because you apparently ‘don’t get it’ when the rest of the world does. It’s a full-brother to ‘The Beautiful Game’ but unfortunately neither expression comes close to being the Australian game.’’

wolf says:

08:42am | 10/12/09

“I think most people would all for the World Cup to come to Australia but only if it doesn’t significantly affect the main local codes.”

What a load of crap.  Hosting a world cup will only happen once in a lifetime.  This is for the nation, and there is precedent to changing ‘footy’ season to accomodate special events (2000 Olympics anyone?).

The AFL and NRL have been banging on about developing the game at ‘grassroots’ level and how they are a ‘national’ game.  This is their opportunity to prove it.  How about rescheduling games to country areas for a few rounds?  You could also scrap the preason comp and start a little earlier and run a little later so less games are affected.

It would make sense to share a few of the games with the kiwis too, if for no other reason than to alleviate some of the scheduling pressure.

I’ll bet the ones whinging will be the first out enjoying the parties, the atmosphere and the competition.  So stop your small minded bitching and get on board for the good of all of us.

Biff says:

08:43am | 10/12/09

Australians can not play soccer…it’s as simple as that. We’ve been hovering on the cusp of international soccer without ever being able to enter the big time. We should not waste money on soccer but instead channel money into the games we can play but need a boost. Team sports in need of an injection of funds are water polo, softball, beach volley ball,  netball and a few others.

Leave the soccer to countries that can play it well.

Jon says:

08:44am | 10/12/09

The sad part is that the rest world’s children they never a chance play other codes. As a child my parents got me playing soccer for 4 years and I hated it. When I grew up eventually of I played other codes and found them much more interesting than soccer. The best part about Australia is the choice unlike most of the world. The most popular sport by far in this country is Netball but it gets no money or exposure.  So when I hear about the so-called world game, all I can think about is a comparison to MacDonald’s. The sky won’t fall if Australia does get it.

Cooko says:

09:09am | 10/12/09

The truth is Australia will need to build a bunch of new purpose-built RECTANGULAR pitches if it has any hope of hosting a WC. You might not mind watching football being played on a cricket pitch, but the rest of the world like to be a bit closer to the action.

Calm down. Theres 12 and a half years to get them built.

AdamC says:

09:28am | 10/12/09

I do not support Australia hosting the World Cup. Australia, with its sparse population and far-flung cities (will teams have to fly between Brisbane and Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth?) is geographically unsuited to hosting the WC and, as commenters have pointed out, our stadia are architecturally unsuited to association football.

Not to mention, what is the real benefit to Australia – aside from supposedly bolstering the participation levels of a British colonial export we have hitherto been clever enough to avoid? Very little is the answer. Despite the hype, hosting the WC carries far less prestige than the Olympic summer games.

The money that, no doubt, will be lavished on the WC bid would be much better spent revitalising some of Australia’s regular sporting fixtures, most notably the golf tour.

Susan says:

09:30am | 10/12/09

The 2018 bid is about nothing more than improving chances in 2022 - because of the continent rules (once your continent has won the tournament it is ineligible to host the next two - which also moots your point about how Europe hasn’t won the last two hosting rights), we’d be nuts not to throw in a bid for both, especially given there are 4 other Asian nations who’ve thrown bids in. If FIFA happened to decide they wanted 2018 in Asia and we’d only bid for 2022 we’d kill our chances entirely.

England will most likely win the 2018 tournament, making the other 3 European bids ineligible for 2022. But we’re in the box seat for 2022 (ours is the dominant Asian bid I’d say, and it’ll come down to whether it comes to us or goes to a North American bid - both countries that have hosted the tournament before). The other codes would be well advised to start thinking of ways to make it work for everyone rather than continue protesting, because the odds of winning the rights are good and no government in its right mind will not support a bid to host the biggest sporting event (by viewer numbers, not participants) in the world.

DG says:

09:36am | 10/12/09

Perfect solution - players (and managers) are complaining that the AFL and RL seasons are too long now - injuries and so forth shortening players careers and damaging the game. How about we give them a nice healthy break - say a month and a half, maybe 2 - to get their fitness back, recover from injuries and then launch into the “business end of the season” with renewed vigour? Sounds reasonable - the players get a well deserved rest, the loyal fans get to see to quality players all season and the respective codes don’t have to miss a game competition game.

Since we are such a ‘sporting nation’ how about we try to host some sort of international competition (in another sport of course) during that well deserved break. I vote that we let FIFA hold their little competition here.

Tim says:

09:37am | 10/12/09

@wolf,
i think you’re the one talking crap. This is for the “nation”? haha that is funny.
This is the FFA trying to expand their supporter base in the best way possible, by hosting the biggest tournament. I doubt the national interest has come into their thoughts.
As for the Olympics, they only affected sports for a couple of weeks and didn’t need to takeover every stadium, whereas the world cup will affect the other codes for upwards of three months.
As I said, most people will be all for hosting the world cup as long as there is sensible negotiation with the other codes to minimise disruption. If it requires severe disruption to the other codes then thanks, but no thanks.

Chris says:

10:24am | 10/12/09

Finally some sense in this ‘debate’.
Good piece Leo.

Brumo says:

10:34am | 10/12/09

Look all you true believers in THE REAL FOOTBALL, we don’t have to worrie about these soccer LOOSERS bcos FFA will never give Australia the diving World Cup becos no body here cares mate. Also the time zone is all wrong for the countrys that do care. Thats why they would never have a world cup in Japan or anything would they. Send it to Euprpe where they can have all the riots they want and leave the FOOTBALL to real men. Good on Demetriou for standing p for AUSSIES!!! No body watchs your boring Z-League anyway cos its soft

wolf says:

10:43am | 10/12/09

Tim I hope you don’t seriously believe that hosting a world cup will have a significant impact on the relative supporter base of our football codes in this country outside the world cup year.  If you need proof look no further than “Davo from St Kilda”‘s enlightened approach to the issue.

The national interest that would be served by hosting a world cup would be free advertising of our country to the world.  The cultural benefit would be exposing Australians to a range of people of different nationalities as well as exposing them to aspect of our culture (which would include the other codes).

Any negotiation is largely out of FFA’s hands as the timing and the availability of the grounds is a FIFA requirement.  What it comes down to is Australia’s opportunity to host a cultural event, and whether the other codes want to get board and use this as an opportunity to pay back their supporter base outside of the big cities.  Alternatively they can take Davo’s jingoistic approach to their code and be seen as spoilers.

wolf says:

10:48am | 10/12/09

On another note I’m going to assume Brumo’s contribution is an excellent troll.  If not we really should drop the whole idea of hosting a world cup.

If the influx of international visitors a world cup would bring (or worse their media) ran into him I would be too embarrased to show my face overseas again.

iansand says:

10:56am | 10/12/09

Schedule the World Cup for March and April.

Next problem!!!

Peter Hatsworthy says:

11:03am | 10/12/09

You just have to laugh at the stadiums being proposed to host World Cup matches. Dairy Farmers at North Queensland??!! This is supposed to be a showpiece to the world and we’re proposing matches in some of the most far flung places imaginable.

And FIFA won’t cop the round stadiums we have here either. They might allow the MCG because of its capacity but surely Perth and Adelaide would need to build rectangular stadiums.

SM says:

11:07am | 10/12/09

Ignore any bi partisan talk.  Neither the NRL or AFL want Australia to host a world cup, and who can blame them.

Dan says:

11:10am | 10/12/09

Brumo, I don’t know whether you’re serious as Japan co-hosted (with South Korea) the 2002 World Cup. In terms of time zone, there’s no reason why Australia shouldn’t get the World Cup; especially since we will (after next year) be the only continent yet to host it.

S.L says:

11:19am | 10/12/09

@ Davo…..700,000 registered AFL players in Australia? Let me see there is around 4,000,000 people in SA and WA combined and say another 4,000,000 in Vic and maybe another 1,000,000 in Tas and NT? Counting the minimal participation in NSW and QLD I’ll leave them out for argument sake. So your trying to tell me that for every 13 people in AFL states 1 plays AFL and if we take women out of the equation which on average is half the population that makes it 1 player for every 6.5 people in the AFL states play the game. Davo you’ve just writen a bigger piece of rubbish than what Leo wrote this morning…... congratulations! Also not once in any post I’ve made to the Punch have I knocked any other code of football but here’s a first. If thats the AFLs official participation figures they are full of it and you southerners have fallen for it. Take a trip out of Melbourne Davo and smell the real Australia! I enjoy watching AFL but if your noble sport is to be put on such a pedistal then why can’t it get out of the southern and western states of a country with a population of 20,000,000 compared to the boring round ball game that is played everywhere? The Swans and Lions don’t count as they have still largely Vic based players and poor old Kevin Sheedy is flat out introducing himself to a city who has no idea who he is.

SLF says:

11:31am | 10/12/09

I can absolutely understand where they are coming from with their fear about the World Cup coming to Australia.

This is not about use of stadia, this is about protecting dying codes, league and union, and protecting a one nation sport. Can understand the fear of the NRL and ARU, but not the AFL, the world cup coming to the USA did not kill Basketball, Baseball or NFL.

League is dying, AFL is not unless Demetriou keeps passing it off as a bitter sport scared of a rival. Really if soccer is so insignificant why are you all running scared?

And can someone explain how league and union are national sports? Where is league in WA, Tasmania or SA, where is AFL in Tasmania or the Terriroty?

Normal person says:

12:02pm | 10/12/09

Davo from St Kilda…. You aliens from Melbourne are missing screws in your head…. Not only is GAYFL not a world game but it is not worth losing the chance to be on the world stage and rake in millions of dollars just to satisfy the egos of a town packed full of ignorant arial ping pong spectators. Please, don’t preach to the rest of us just how great you think the game is and how great the blues are, besides, the pies are a better team anyway….

Tim says:

12:04pm | 10/12/09

Sorry SL,
Davo is correct.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cracking-the-codes/story-e6frf9if-1225805176969
Although included in the 700000 is about 200000 Auskick participants which is a bit dodgy because its more of a school sports program than an official competition.
@SLF,
if League and Union are dying then Soccer must have already had the last rites read to it.
A-League hasn’t really been kicking many goals recently.
And although no doubt it would be a shot in the arm for Soccer in Australia.  thoughts that the World Cup would kill the other sports are silly.

Grammar Nazi says:

12:12pm | 10/12/09

“Until soccer is really played by Australian kids from dawn to till dusk the way it is in Rome or Rio [‘you’re’, not ‘your’] not going to challenge the dominance of Aussie Rules or Rugby League in this country.”

FTFY

Ray says:

12:15pm | 10/12/09

Its true there does need to be a calmness. Particularly, Soccer needs to relise there is consultation required here; not just an assumption that the World Cup holds sway over all else. The other codes have long standing contracts over the major sporting fields, sponsorships to honour, and player obligations and livelihood to meet. Soccer went down the wrong path without going down a path of consultation from the outset, rather than some eronious assumption that everyting would move aside to fit around a World Cup. Compensation? Its even a summer sport here. Bit of humility required rather than the soccer fraternity blinkered views of their world? game mentality, the crowds of which here, won’t fill a telephone booth..

Razor says:

12:17pm | 10/12/09

It is bad enough when the Expats qualify for the World Cup elsewhere - the fairy divers become insufferable.

One can only hope that FIFA is smart enough not to award it to Australia, ever, then they will think they have some legitimacy here.

However, if it did force a new stadium for Perth I could live with that.

Scott says:

12:23pm | 10/12/09

Great story, totally agree, the world cup would be a great thing to have in the country and who really cares if one season of AFL and NRL are inconvenienced a bit. Andrew Demetriou is so Machiavellian, and even though he hides behind an innocent little smile and neat hair every mother would love, he’s ultimately goal would be destruction of every other winter sport in Australia. If only the media would portray some of the things he says/does as this we could all take him with the grain of salt we need to.

S.L says:

12:26pm | 10/12/09

@ Tim…... That’s my point. 200,000 auskick participants? (Now we’re getting closer to the truth) Then that leaves 500,000 AFL players.  Davo’s soccer stats are pretty close to the mark so no argument there. But even though league stats of 200,000 are a distant third here they are as rubbery as AFL figures. (in their favour of course). So what else has the AFL included to add to these figures? All the employees of their sponsors? Anybody who just happens to drive past when a game is on? The spectators as well? I’ve no doubt what Davo says is what’s been written as in the Herald Sun but I take those figures very suspiciously.

Gavin says:

12:36pm | 10/12/09

There is one problem everyone seems to have overlooked. The World Cup is normally played in the northern summer i.e. Australian Winter.

The weather is likely to be rubbish and who wants to watch the World Cup ruined by rain?

Jenny says:

12:37pm | 10/12/09

Time and time again we hear that sport teaches kids life lessons.

It seems that the AFL and NRL never learnt to share.

Andrew says:

12:54pm | 10/12/09

The idea of New Zealand co-hosting some games will never be looked at as FIFA will not allow it. There is a precedent of two countries hosting a world cup (South Korea and Japan, they have already had it Brumo) but those two countries are part of the same confederation. New Zealand and Australia are in different confederations so firstly the Asian football confederation would not back it but also FIFA wouldn’t. I hear they are also a bit cold on the idea of co-hosting as well.I think your correct when saying that supporters of all positions for and against etc need to step back and calm down. Some of the stuff coming from the camps (including my own soccer camp) is ridiculous. We need to work together and there is plenty of time to work out contigencys. As mentioned, we are not going to get the 2018 cup, everyone knows this is just to show that we are really interested and it did not essentially cost anymore to do. The 2018 is going to england. Seeing how the 2014 is in South America it leaves North America, Asia and Africa as the potential hosts (oceania would not be considered as they don’t even get a direct qualification spot). We are definitley a chance for the 2022 and our ties with Asia which is the quickest growing area makes us a very attractive choice. Can we all just get along and do our best to get things in the best shape for the cup and if Andrew Demetriou and David Gallop want some ideas on how to use the cup to their advantage all they have to do is get in touch with me, i have heaps of them.

Garry says:

01:01pm | 10/12/09

It is absolutely incredible of some people here, ‘Australia is to vast’ well hello, this is a sport played in all parts of the world - they are versed in travelling, ‘its a British colonial sport’ Gee… and there is me thinking the game is played in China, Africa, Russia, France, Italy, Brazil, Argentina (and 200 or so more) and last time I looked they were not British.

Some have said, ‘AFL is a real Aussie’s game’ does that mean you are not Australian if you dislike AFL, what if I like Cricket or Rugby, or even, basketball (or am I now American).

“Its a real football game’ - how is using your hands and running with it football?

‘Soccer has divers’ - er hmm… watch AFL why don’t you with a view that is not blinkered. AFl players dive, cuddle, hug and I am sure if I watched occasionally kiss and pat each other on the bottom.

Are the AFL and RL that frightened that for what eight weeks they will loose the stranglehold they have?

Where is our love of sport?

Besides, and forgive me for this observation, AFL is national now but was once VFL which faught hard to keep it that way. A final can have two other states but must be played in Victoria, and the ANZAC game is only played by Victorian teams does that make other states ineligible because they are not Victorian.

AFL can not be a national game until it gets out of Victoria. I do wonder how national a sport is if Sydney V Brisbane in the final is played in Melbourne.

Soccer, may be a minor sport played by migrants but to continue to denounce them as unAustralian is unAustralian in my view.

We are a nation of sports lovers, yet the one that is most respected by nearly every country in the world, the one sport if your the top off gives the greatest respect is not an Australian team - what does that say of our love of sports… Oh hell we are good at nearly everything so that is enough?

As to the argument of AFL/RL losing fans, I think not, I mean those that love Soccer do not like AFL (maybe) so we are catering for new players, new heroes and new revenue.

Brett Jones says:

01:16pm | 10/12/09

S.L. you said 4million in WA/SA, 4 million in Vic, 1 million in Tas / NT out of a population of 20,000,000. Does that mean there are 11,000,000 in NSW / QLD / ACT? Try harder.

Matt says:

01:28pm | 10/12/09

I had never heard of AFL before moving to Australia.  As for soccer in Australia, I know in Sydney, I see people playing it all over the place.  In Melbourne and the big towns, never see it being played.  Seems that in an international city such as Sydney, we embrace what is international.  Also, Soccer (football) by FAR has a bigger participation rate around the world. I mean AFL, people dont even know it exists.  We dont even represent 1% of the worlds population, so who are we to boo hoo such a sport?

iansand says:

01:36pm | 10/12/09

I think I have worked out the problem.  Victorians are mad.

DG says:

01:43pm | 10/12/09

Tim (01:04pm | 10/12/09)

Those may be the numbers reported by the organisations - but the ABS paints a very different picture. According to the ABS more adults participate in Soccer than AFL (250,000 in AFL, 415,000 Soccer - based on 2006 figures).

I am however willing to acknowledge that,AFL is the main sport in 5 states/territories (ACT, NSW and QLD prefer Soccer).

The above relate to persons over 15 only.

According to the ABS, 268,000 kids play soccer while 188,000 play AFL. Again Soccer is the more popular sport.

(5-14 years old- based on 2006 figures, the latest I can find).

Based on the ABS materials it appears that while Soccer has the bigger participation rate in Australia - i.e Aussies are more likely to play soccer than any other sport. But that’s not true in the majority of states - i.e Victorians are more likely to play AFL than Soccer.

It also suggests that either the AFL lie through their teeth about participation rates or around 260,000 people are too embarrassed to admit that they participate in AFL.

Al says:

01:49pm | 10/12/09

The biggest mistake Tom Wills made was not the invention of australian rules football, but stabbing himself only after inventing it.

Rowdy says:

01:56pm | 10/12/09

Brett Jones of 2.11pm….actually, according to the ABS Population at end of June 2009, the population of NSW, Qld and ACT is 11,857,700, so S.L is in fact correct. EPIC FAIL. Try harder mate…..here’s the link:

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0

slickwilly says:

01:59pm | 10/12/09

the comment “... concerns of Gallop and Demetriou that this could lead to some kind of soccer takeover look small minded and unnecessarily insecure” seems a rather twisted take on what appears to be considered attempt on behalf of the afl ceo to tease out a definitive ffa position in light of changes to undertakings that were agreed to between the parties some months back

perhaps you should be asking what mischief frank lowy has been up to influencing the ffa change of heart - or would that not fit with your anti-afl bias

PaulN says:

02:00pm | 10/12/09

If we want to be the best in the world, id rather we be in a competetion that the whole world plays.
Being the best in the world at at AFL is kind of like winning a basketball game at a special school and youre the only person playing.
All very interesting stuff but brings up the question why do we have sport to begin with?

Tim says:

02:16pm | 10/12/09

DG,
Davo was talking about registered players of which AFL has 700000.
As I said, the AFL figures are a bit dodgy because they include over 200000 kids enrolled in the Auskick program. These would not be included in the organised sport figures you quoted.
By the way, your figures are only for males, otherwise swimming is number 1.
And if you want to talk about overall participation rates in sport for adults, then golf is the number 1 sport.

Freddo says:

02:20pm | 10/12/09

Paul N,
that’s like saying McDonalds is the best food because everyone in the world eats it.

Andy says:

02:35pm | 10/12/09

Just a brief note to mention touch football, it’s the third highest participation sport in Australia, and catching AFL. The latest ABS statistic place it just 0.1% behind AFL. Leo great article, as a league fan I think with 12 years to go we should be able to work something out to enjoy both.

Geoff. S says:

02:40pm | 10/12/09

Regardless of what people think of soccer , it is the world game as it is played by virtually every country and thousands of players. The AFL have done absolutely nothing to turn their game into an international spectacle. If they want to compete in the big league then they need to make the AFl game international. The AFl game is truly worth a great game but currently is stuck with no where to go. To the AFL - stop being princesses and move over and let the big boys play their game.  If you think you are as good as FIFA then do something about making AFl international.

Andy says:

02:43pm | 10/12/09

Sorry that should read, ‘third highest of the football codes in Australia’.

Bob H says:

03:03pm | 10/12/09

Afl is not a sport - it is a Victorian winter routine where the locals huddle together to keep warm.  The biggest game of the year is a suburb of Melbourne playing a suburb of Melbourne, high stakes indeed and of such great interest to any state above the Murray.  But then that is Melbourne, 1950s narrow mindedness and safely insulated from the rest of the Australia and the world.  The World Cup should be played in Australia - but keep it north of the Murray MCG is no place for sport.

DG says:

03:03pm | 10/12/09

Tim - Actually I only compared AFL and Soccer.

You are correct, I inadvertently used the male only statistics for children - but that hardly improves matters for AFL (with 11,000 versus 82,000 soccer players).

As for the definition of organised sport:
“In this survey, organised sport refers to sports which are played or trained for outside of school hours and are organised by a school, club or association” - that would include auskick.

“the AFL figures are a bit dodgy because they include over 200000 kids enrolled in the Auskick program.” - actually according to the Auskick website there were around 20% less than that figure.

S.L says:

03:28pm | 10/12/09

@Tim and Davo I don’t doubt the integrity of either of you on this matter and I don’t have to check out the Herald Sun website to confirm your clams as I’m sure you have researched it sufficiently yourselves but now other writers are confirming my doubts on how rubbery the figures are that are being thrown about between the codes. (Thanks Rowdy and DG!) The botton line is the original story is about an opinion on why we can’t win the Soccer World Cup the biggest sporting event in the World BAR NONE! We’ve had that big track and field event (with swimming thrown in) twice to universal praise so why can’t we handle this? FINGERS CROSSED I SAY but I’m still the pessimist…....
@Grammar Nazi how did I do this time?

Carl Palmer says:

03:39pm | 10/12/09

Round 1 of the current A League season started Thursday 6th August and Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday 20th March 2010. The world Cup – ‘Football – The beautiful game – The world game – call it what you will can have either the 10 weeks prior to Xmas or the 10 weeks after Xams. Like going to church on Xmas day, the Boxing Day test must not be moved. That’s flexibility for you - problem fixed. That will give James Sutherland plenty of time to make alternative arrangements.

AFR says:

03:46pm | 10/12/09

Hosting the World Cup can only be good for the country - its the world’s biggest event, sporting or otherwise, and exposes Australia for a whole month to the world. AFL and NRL types should learn to pull their collective heads in. All AFL is doing by taking its “its our stadium and you can;t play” attitude, is that Melbourne will not host the final, and AFL will miss out on a heap of exposure they so desparately crave. Crazy.

SM says:

03:57pm | 10/12/09

@Bob H

Like most soccer fans, you share this delusional notion that if one thing is “bigger” than another, then it must be better.  People who love AFL couldn’t give a rats if soccer is played all over the world.  Do you think NFL players and fans in the US, for example, are concerned that their sport isn’t terribly high profile in Croatia?

You like soccer Bob, so good for you.  But try and remember that we’re not all like you, and if you want to convince fans of other codes of soccers worth, you’ll need to do a lot more than repeatedly bang on about how widespeard soccer is. Because we really don’t care

Bazza says:

04:27pm | 10/12/09

hang on a minute 700,000 AFL players??????

The Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS) 2008 Commissioned by the Commonwealth government

855,600 Football   547,000 (registered)
487,800 Aussie Rules   317,000 (registered)
219,900 Rugby League   164,000 (registered)
148,900 Rugby Union   124,000 (registered)

Figures include children and adults

Regardless of the facts and figures I think football should show a little respect to AFL and League and Im sure they will gove some back.  AFL and NRL probably know that football is the biggest sport in the world and that the WC is the worlds biggest event. The benefits to Australia are massive.  Football at a local level will always be the poor cousin, and as a football fan I accept that. I dont think it will be bigger than AFL or NRL ever. But the Socceroos are a different kettle of fish 6,5 million got up at 4.00am to watch the Croatia v Socceroos. 7.2 million watched the Japan game. so the national team has a large following . we should do everything to have the WC that is physically possible

Jeb says:

04:57pm | 10/12/09

both demetriou and gallop have said almost exactly the same things, however most of the dissent from the general public seems to come from afl fans in melbourne. now i know the general consensus is that melbourne’s a pretty depressing place - shit weather, wasteland landscape, insular people etc but you’d think stopping the afl was like someone taking away the only thing they had to do. oh wait…

Needles says:

06:09pm | 10/12/09

Floating arenas are in fact a possibility. Remember we are supposed to have hoverboards by 2015. They don’t work on the water, unless you got power!

Chris says:

06:21pm | 10/12/09

The NRL would be able to survive two months without its big stadiums. The majority of League clubs have held onto, or at least maintained, many of there surburban grounds. The Brisbane Broncos could move there games to Ballymore. The NQ Cowboys could play a few games in Cairns etc. And most of the Sydney teams have there own stadiums - Brookvale, Leichhardt, Penrith, Parramattta etc. I think it is mostly the AFL which would suffer. Other than that I think Gallop is just worried about the boost soccer would get with it’s World Cup held here.

Peter M says:

06:44pm | 10/12/09

I think there needs to be a more consolidated agreement between all codes. I don’t think Football gets in the way too much when Rugby League has their World Cup, nor would they for AFL (well, international rules). It’s a different kettle of fish for Football to host but I have to say it could be sorted out.

The AFL should have more stadia within or near Melbourne for their competition anyway. 9 clubs call home to only 2 stadiums, of which, both are designed for other purposes as well. My belief is the AFL should have more venues to cater for themselves.

FFA could make a solution to use an older oval venue and upgrade it for the World Cup then trade it to the AFL. Kill two birds with one stone. Might not be the best for spectators but who knows what can be sorted out.

That said, AFL recieves ownership of Docklands in 2020, so they will have far more control on a 2022 World Cup if Australia got the chance.

David B says:

07:54pm | 10/12/09

AFL is scared that popularity of World Football in Australia will take away young and old from their game.
As they should be worry, most of their players are on drugs,drunk,in fights  
or have a problem with women.
And why they call it Football as they don’t have a ball to play with .All they have is a OVAL shape thing with air inside,one dose not call a balloon a ball.
I guess if one is hungover or on drugs anything looks like a ball.

Mr Pastry says:

09:07pm | 10/12/09

We should not have the world cup - the stakes are to high and the inevitable pain of not winning a home staged world cup is not what Australian sports public is used to.  Lets stick to world cups and sports where we are assured of success, Cricket, AFL, League, union, sports that hardly anyone else plays but enough to warrant the occasional flight overseas.

Glenn says:

01:38am | 11/12/09

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.  That’s a given.

Rice is the most popular food in the world…. and my god it’s bland.

Popular only means the proletariat embrace boredom and familiarity.

90 mins… Nil all.  Bring it on!!!!

Greg says:

03:09am | 11/12/09

Its no wonder frank lowy is a multi billionaire he has used other peoples money to make his fortune, so its no wonder he has let the tax payers of this country foot the $42 million bid to host this rubbish,lets hope if this event ever came to this country it would be more successful than his z league that he dreamed up to replace that other great competition the nsl now what a joke that was.

P Maldinivic says:

04:03am | 11/12/09

Dennis Cometti is a sell out to his italian roots.
You will always be an efnic with a funny name Dennis. No matter how much you try to be ocker and sprout your lame Alf one liners.

Andrew Huang says:

06:10am | 11/12/09

Davo from St Kilda, your comment about how soccer games typically end in a 0-0 all draw shows how biased and close-minded you are. For one, the typical scoreline isn’t 0-0. And secondly, sometimes that 0-0 scoreline can mean the difference between qualification and being knocked out. Even if soccer games occasionally end in 0-0 draws, I’d still rather watch it than a game where people are banging in a goal every minute. The goals tend to not be a significant when they’re going in left right and centre.

Sanchez says:

08:24am | 11/12/09

In utero? You think there will be many 13 year olds playing for the Socceroos?

Tim says:

08:37am | 11/12/09

@Bazza.
just to qualify, the ERASS study only includes people 15 years old and over. It does not include children younger than this, so your figures are wrong.

Fury Fan says:

08:46am | 11/12/09

I’m all for the World Cup. All you clowns going on about let’s not host it blah blah blah, are you stupid ? This would be a huge coup for this country, massive. Unlike the Rugby League world Cup which failed hardcore HAHA ! And who was that idiot banging on about Australia not being great at soccer. You have clearly never watched the socceroos play. We’ve taken it to some of the greatest nations in the world. Clearly we’re not great but we’re still pretty bloody good. The Aussie rugby league team aren’t world champs anymore either, they lost the cup in their own back yard - going to give them stick too ?

Grow up !

Hedgey says:

09:32am | 11/12/09

AFL and NRL - pull your heads out of your own collective behinds…stop grumbling about how you’re going to be disadvantaged…and work out how to benefit from a global roadshow coming to town…thinking kudos for hosting a great tournament, infrastructure built to which you can take advantage of at a later date and a cash injection into local economy.

I don’t even like soccer that much, but I do realise a good thing when I see one..

and just so you’re aware….no one gives a monkeys about AFL outside of Australia (read Melbourne) and half of Ireland (nearest possible strain of the game)...

Tim says:

09:36am | 11/12/09

After reading everyone’s comments, I think the argument simply comes down to what code you support or prefer - which is totally understandable.

Coming from neutral ground myself, I think it would be good for our nation to host the event. It is the biggest single event on the globe - more countries enter the world cup than enter the Olympics and there are more tv viewers worlwide than any other event. The spotlight will be on our country…..the world will all be looking at Australia and it’s a great way to show the globe how great our country really is. Forget the Lara Bingle ‘where the bl**dy hell are you’ tourist campaign…hosting the WC is arguably the biggest marketing campaign a nation can have. It gives us prospects of increased tourism post of the event (great for the economy), potentially an injection of funds for our country during the event and additionally it will improve a number of our sporting facilities.

For Australia to not host the competition in 2022 (when we have a great opportunity) would really be a shame. To miss out on hosting the event due to AFL / NRL bodies not being happy with ‘out of the norm’ arrangements would be unfortunate…surely the sorts of things AFL / NRL can negotiate are temporary alternative arrangements for their respective competitions as well as some sort of financial compensation form either the FFA and or even our political friends down in Canberra (which quite frankly is a possibility due to the financial boost the event could bring)!!! As for die-hard NRL / AFL fans, have a good think about the overall picture and don’t get boxed in with a one-eyed view of the issue at hand.

If you love sports, love your country then you should probably support the bid.

thom duggan says:

09:38am | 11/12/09

Anyone remember the Rugby League World Cup from last year? No? I thats right cause it was a flop.

What about the 2004 League World Cup? No? Thats because it was cancelled due to the abysmal failure of the competition in 2000.

Why are we so against giving another code a fair go in this country?

The Whittler says:

09:47am | 11/12/09

It doesn’t really matter what Demetriou wants as the World Cup bid has been back by the federal government and the state governments, because they realise how much money it will bring into the economy.  Funnily enough these are the people who actually run the country and will tell Demetriou to sit down, stup up and hand over the stadiums.

Anyway I’m sure the NRL and AFL will be compensated for their troubles so no clubs are going to go bust.  Remember dollars always win!

Jugger says:

09:48am | 11/12/09

I love the fact that AFL fans trot out the tired old argument:  “Soccer has nil-all draws, so it must be boring.”

My answer to this is, that if soccer had as ridiculously large goals as AFL then of course there would be far more goals scored.  It wouldn’t, however, make the game more exciting as there is no skill whatsoever involved in booting a ball through such comically large goals, goals that have no crossbar, no goalie, and a set of ‘back-up’ goals to give you a sympathy point if you’re too much of a doofus to hit the right target.  That would be what I would call boring!

bob says:

09:51am | 11/12/09

Open wide for some soccer!
TV ANNOUNCER
The Continental Soccer Association is coming to Springfield! It’s all here - fast-kicking, low scoring, and ties? You bet!
BART
Hey Dad, how come you’ve never taken us to see a soccer game?
HOMER
I… don’t know.
TV ANNOUNCER
You’ll see all your favorite soccer stars. Like Adiaga! Adiaga two! Badiaga! Aruglia! And Pizzoza!
HOMER
Oh, I’ve never heard of those people.
TV ANNOUNCER
And they’ll all be signing autographs.
HOMER
Woohoo!
TV ANNOUNCER
This match will determine once and for all which nation is the greatest on earth - Mexico or Portugal!
BART & LISA
Can we go Dad, please Dad, Please Dad, can we go Dad, huh, huh, please?
HOMER
Yes, yes! Oh god, yes!!
HOMER
Oh, I’ll kill myself if Portugal doesn’t win.
Half back passes to the center, back to the wing, back to the center. Center holds it. Holds it. Holds it…

Bob says:

10:42am | 11/12/09

Adam C I’d just like to point out to you that the 2014 World Cup is going to be played in Brazil a country greater in land mass than Australia so not so sure that flying between cities will be a huge problem. You base one group in Perth then they fly four hours back to the east coast for the rest of the tournament or a quicker trip home for most of those teams who get knocked out. I really do believe than Australia is a dead certainty for the 2022 world cup. I couldn’t give a damb what the AFL and NRL do, if FIFA want the workld cup in Australia it WILL happen. it is such a great opportunity for the AFL to get global exposure I can’t understand their seige mentality, especially 13 years out from the tournament.

me says:

11:25am | 11/12/09

Leo does know that Melbourne United are the 3 rd largest fottball club in Melbourne. Only Collingwood and Essondon more paying fans.

Coffs United says:

12:01pm | 11/12/09

All the other codes are afraid of a rise in profile of Football (say it proud, FOOTBALL) and rightly so. We win the world cup either 2018 or 2022 and then Australia will be treated to the largest sporting event ever staged in this country.  Aussies love a party and this is possibly the biggest. The passion of the rest of the world and Aussie football fans will be on show to the rest of these plebs who don’t believe the hype.
Believe…..

Doron Katz says:

12:56pm | 11/12/09

Well, Demetriou can jump and scream. As far as Etihad is concerned, the lease by AFL runs out around 2015, so if Etihad is smart it would know that its getting more money from the World Cup and would not extend AFL’s lease until this clause is put in place. So Demetriou should not talk like he owns the stadium,
In any case by 2022, we could have build 10 new stadiums.

Tim says:

01:20pm | 11/12/09

The only reason why people oppose it is because of their bias towards other codes or the threat that the popularity to soccer the event will bring, which is just childish. There are so many positives in holding the world cup that I fail to see a sensible argument against it. The other codes, if they are not being childish, will realise the bigger picture and the long-term opportunities to their own sport as well as soccer.

6c legs says:

01:25pm | 11/12/09

Why are you picking on Grandmas?

The afl / nrl bigwigs couldn’t argue their way out of a paper bag without making it personal or insulting.

...‘h’mm sorta explains ‘‘the culture” within the 2 codes better than the thousands of words written by physco-babblers whenever they have a sex scandal…

Tim says:

01:30pm | 11/12/09

@Tom Duggan,
The rugby league world cup last year was a success before it began. I don’t know how you could possibly think it was a failure. They made money from the event.
Of course it was not anywhere near as big as the soccer world cup.
There’s nothing wrong with giving another code a fair go in this country, but a “fair go” does not include shutting the other codes down for three months. Sensible negotiation needs to be had, with both sides willing to compromise. The FFA need to change their sense of entitlement and arrogant attitude that everyone will just give them what they want.

Andrew says:

01:31pm | 11/12/09

You have to compare apples to apples.

The AFL registered players includes everything with a fair bit of double dipping, club football, auskick and School. Basically if you touch a Sherrin your on the list.

The FFA haven’t cottoned onto this PR exercise and in fact I know there are 50 fairly big (participation wise) football (soccer) clubs in Brisbane alone that don’t have a single player registered with the FFA
http://www.qcsa.org.au/clubs/index.php

In 2007 there were 452,188 registered players in 30,827 teams registered to play competitively in 2,365 clubs affiliated to FFA.

Their the stats, they don’t include kids playing for their school (estimated 254,473
Players) or Futsal

Roy Morgan research has estimated that there are 1.218 million football participants in Australia.

Not that number of kids playing really means anything at a professional level but can’t believe people swallow that more people play AFL……

Daniel says:

02:38pm | 11/12/09

I’m an NRL tragic and I’m in favour of bringing the world cup to Aus.  I think we can work something out.  League and Soccer definitely need better stadiums so we all will benifit. 

True afl numbers are a joke, auskick is cheaper than after-school care.  Get a can of coke and a hat.  Sign up.  Rugby League should be allowed to use Touch Football numbers. 

I loved the League World Cup and ANZ wil still be a crap stadium after the renos

Jack Fraser says:

03:26pm | 11/12/09

It’s really disappointing reading some of the comments belittling the AFL and its stance regarding the use of local stadiums for a possible World Cup.  The tone of many has been to ridicule the AFL, based on its smallness in only being played seriously in part of Australia, and its supporters for not worshiping a more universal code.  The sad thing is that all of this sort of comment could be seen to be about Australia as a country.  We are a small isolated country with our own way of doing things and Australian football is one of the few things that is truly ours. 

Those rabid anti-Australian football haters must have troubles living in such an open and diverse sporting paradise.  Yes four national football leagues show a diversity that can’t be argued with despite the ravings of the sad, delusional cultural cringers that infect these comment pages.  Maybe you cringers should think about moving to Europe and experience some real monoculturalism.

It can only be from the depth of a cringers mind that anyone would think the AFL and the NRL should not stand up for themselves and ask a few serious questions about this bid and the use of these stadiums.  After all, who built all the stadia on FFA’s list of venues in the fist place?  Well initially cricket built a lot of our larger stadiums, but it is Football (MCG, SCG, the Gabba, the Waca, Adelaide Oval, Etihad, Subiaco, Football Park and the recently departed VFL Park) and Rugby League (the SFS, Lang Park and early part in the development of the SCG and the Gabba) who supplied the fans on a regular basis that allowed an economically sustainable increase in the size of these grounds.  That they are within FIFA’s rules regarding venue size has almost nothing to do with Soccer.  And what has soccer come up with?  ME Stadium in Perth or Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide!  They both have a capacity of under 20,000 and their fans rarely approach filling them.  Yes, the Socceroos get big crowds, but we rarely see them in meaningful matches against strong opposition and never with the regularity to justify a large Soccer only stadium. 

So when you decide to bid for the World Cup, using taxpayer’s money and other sports venues you should show a bit of respect.  FFA has acted imperiously believing they have Government on their side with the power of legislation backing them up.  However with private ownership of Etihad and threatening sports with millions of committed supporters a populist like Rudd may not be able to supply the certainty you think. SO FFA please emerge from a record of bad administration and start acting humbly like your history in this country suggests you should.  And please Soccer zealots and cultural cringers try and embrace the diversity of sport in this country it may improve you as human beings.

Joe says:

03:32pm | 11/12/09

For all those Melbourne doubters, think about how much interest Tiger Woods brought to your city, how many dollars in tourism money, so much attention on Melbourne. Multiply Tiger Woods by 100 and you have the World Cup.  Melbournites call themselves the sporting capital of Australia and as soon as the biggest sporting event in the world comes around they stick their noses up to it.. Melbourne has a big Greek contingent (Demetriou included) , do you think they will be happy if Australia gets the world cup and it doesn’t come to Victoria, the Greeks love their soccer. the world loves their soccer. i have been to many AFL grand finals at the G, but none of them come close compared to Australia qualifying for the world cup vs Uraguay in november 2005 in Sydney, the atmosphere was electric, i have never seen so many Australians from different backgrounds Italian, Greek, Croatian, English, Irish, Spanish, Asian… all cheering for the socceroos. imagine that atmosphere for every game. every game in the world cup is a do or die clash.  we are lucky to have such a diverse sporting nation, surely we can make some accomodations so that football fans dreams can be fulfilled, so that we can showcase our nations talent on the biggest stage possible, and that talent is not just in the sporting arena it is in our countries beautiful cities and natural wonders and it is in our people as well. in 12 years you will have watched 12 seasons of AFL/NRL. in 12 years for 9 weeks you will not have AFL/NRL during May and June, there will be seasons and seasons of AFL and NRL for years after that, the World Cup will happen once…. just once and you dont have to make another concession again… once its over you can continue dominating the papers and excelling at your respected games and taking the spotlight. that wont change. give australian supporters the chance to support the game they love… C’mon Melbourne, give it a chance…. PLEASE?!

Ronk says:

04:26pm | 11/12/09

If soccer is such a wonderful sport as its promoters keep claiming, why do they demand that every other sport shut down while their so-called “world cup” is on? They’re afraid of being embarrassed by the fact that other sports will draw much greater crowds than their so-called world cup. But even if they succeed in their arrogant demand, the stadiums will be almost empty. Very few Australians will buy tickets, and very few Europeans and South Americans will make the long trip to come here.  If the world soccer body is mad enough to want to have their championship in a country that mostly is bored to tears by soccer, then let THEM pay for it, otherwise Australian taxpayers will be saddled with the debt for generations to come.

James Kitching says:

06:04pm | 11/12/09

Ronk that is the most laughingly partisan and ignorant comment I’ve read on here today!  congrats, you’ve won the cake.

Dazza says:

06:09pm | 11/12/09

The Australian public ought to know something about the wealth and power of FIFA. Nations are falling over themselves to appear in the WC spotlight, and in doing so provide FIFA with easy opportunities to make a fortune from the event. And, arguably, without putting much into the staging of the tournament or its facilities. It is easy for politicians and sport fans to be seduced by the glamour and profile of football on the world stage. But we have a right – indeed a responsibility – to be suspicious of FIFA in the same way that, at least in recent times, we have begun to question the IOC.

http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/171145/fifa-needs-to-spend-reserves-in-africa?utm_source=sbinsl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dec8

I recommed reading Andrew Jennings’s recent book Foul, though he’s not the only stern critic of FIFA. We hear little of the debate here in Australia because, in reality, FIFA has little vested interest in football here. Europe is the hub of money and power.

In terms of the AFL/NRL reticence about losing a chunk of their season to the WC, I wonder how Man United fans would cope if Old Trafford was made unavailable – during soccer season – for some 8 weeks for the exclusive use of another sport?

Jorge says:

06:26pm | 11/12/09

australia would embarass itself on a world stage by hosting the world cup, i dont think we have the ability to organise such an event, lets just stick to tri nation comps and world cups with a maximum of 3 developed nations

Seeing a lot of useless bickering says:

03:09am | 12/12/09

i cant believe the criticism that this world cup opportunity is getting. Firstly any costs covered by the taxpayer will be repayed in full through tourism etc directly stemming from the event. Secondly our sporting infrastructure will be greatly inhanced for the future. Thirdly, The A - League is only five years old, so to criticise its crowd numbers is unfair. Soccer is growing faster then any other football code in australia. Fourthly, to say that we are incapable of hosting the world cup is ludicrous. South Africa, who is hosting the cup next year have widespread poverty, unemployment and a significant lack of civil infrastructure in terms of a fully developed nation such as Australia. Not to mention the huge world events we have carried out successfuly over the last decade. Olympics, Commonwealth Games, World cups of everything but soccer, world youth day. We are capable. Soccer there has to compete against rugby also. Fifthly, There is difinately no lack of interest in Australia, if 7 million can get up to watch it on the small screen in the early hours of the morning then i’m sure we can get 10 thousand to each match. Remember we dont even need to turn up.Every one of those tickets no matter how many seats we provide, will be snapped up by a European or South American as soon as it becomes availaible. Sixthly, This will be bloody good for Australian Soccer, a sport which provides great opportunities for our kids to get out and exercise and keep healthy. Including kids who just dont want to play AFL or Rugby. Seventhly, there is no need to complain fanbois of AFL or Rugby, the world cup is in 2022, What were you complaining about in 1998?

S.L says:

10:21am | 12/12/09

The TV ratings the AFL and NRL get compared to Soccer is as suspicious as the respective “official” participation figures in my book. No one has ever asked me, my family or any of my sport loving friends or in fact anyone I know what sport I have watched on a certain date so how the hell does anyone know what I’m doing and treat these figures as gospal? I have been to Bluetongue to watch A league games and whatever token NRL game they graciously throw at us once or twice a year and the crowds are always similar with one exeption, NRL crowds are always quoted at 4 or 5,000 bigger. The running joke amongst the Mariners faithful is if the crowd is 10,000 “what would the league have quoted for the same lot?” AFL in Vic get crowds NSW and QLD can only dream of but to be honest what else have you got to compete against down there? The rule of thumb player wise with soccer is if a local player starts making a name for himself here he would be a fool not to chase the cash overseas, making as much in a week in Europe as any of the “legends” of league or AFL earn in a month here (maybe a year?). You will never see a Lampard, Henri or Messi here in their prime at club level but we are lucky to get guys like Robby Fowler who have been there, done that and play for the love of the game as they don’t have to prove a thing. If we get the World Cup the exposure will be greater than the Olympics and and be a great boost to the local economy, I drove a taxi during the 2000 Olympics so I speak with authority there! I also know an old digger who punted a cab in Melbourne in 1956 and he had a similar story. BRING IT ON!

Daniel says:

10:52am | 12/12/09

AFL a real man’s game!!! Are some people in Australia still delusional?
If you think this way tell me would you say that to someone overseas? Bet you wouldn’t have the nerve, and you still will show pony in our country what you think makes a real mans game… 
What defines I real mans game?
Let me know please.
Anyway I if Australia does host the WC it will benefit all Australians as the event will bring better stadiums, transportation, tourism, and lot of money!!!!
If you believe that soccer will not take over the no.1 sport in Australia if the WC comes then why are you so terrified?

Roy the Dragons Fan says:

01:16pm | 12/12/09

The World Cup is not only good for soccer in Australia.  It is good for tourism, jobs, infrastructure (roads and stadiums).  Maybe state and federal governments should review funding to Australian Rules Football if the AFL wants to clash with there “business” of job creation, infrastructure creation and promoting Australia. IMHO I believe the AFL may be more concerned about the benefits for Rugby League and Rugby Union in terms of more world class rectangle stadiums. Unaustralian of Demetriou.

Tom says:

03:30pm | 12/12/09

It’s the God damn World Cup.

AFL and NRL can take their rightful spots in the backseat while daddy drives for a few months.

ROb says:

04:29pm | 12/12/09

Boring old racist and gutless protectors of the AFL and NRL realm. Don’t you understand that soccer fans don’t have ANY interest in defeating your sports as they represent a drop in the ocean. Soccer fans have and will always take an interest (and I’m now referring to Commetti’s quote) in AFL and NRL only because we’re not so paranoid about liking anything other than one thing because as the true world game we can see the big picture not a narrow minded (or mindless) defence of sports which if done in the street would have you before a magistrate with a 3 year stretch. You’re welcome to your self proclaimed games (and I include the union too) and the rubbish generated from it but FIFA and FFA will go ahead whether you like it or not laughing at the morons who represent your sports in the media. I guess when you cannot expect much from adults who wear nappies a day after the season ends now can you

brett says:

07:03pm | 12/12/09

Could I point Out to Jeff S that he needs to do some more research to fully understand the international nature of todays AFL by clicking on http://www.worldfootynews.com
also, take some time to listen to why Kids in The UK and Europe and Nth America are finding an exiting new diversion away from their own native sports

BennyT says:

09:00pm | 12/12/09

I think the prize goes to Ronk for worst comment of the day. More people will show up at the AFL then the World Cup? Your head… is there something wrong? People won’t make the long trip? It’s the World Cup! The tickets for it sell out within the hour! You don’t see that in AFL. Alot of my mates went to Germany for the World Cup, and they can tell you the flight didn’t even cross their mind as they were witnessing the largest sporting event on the planet. For Australia to pass this up because fans of another sport which isn’t even regarded outside of a few states are having a hissyfit would be the greatest missed opportunity in history.

Doug Richards says:

11:26am | 13/12/09

If Association Football is so big in this country it has plenty of time to buy the land and build all the stadia it needs for the world cup, withoiut having to beg borrow or hijacl any other code’s grounds.

Meanwhile, can someone tell me what the ‘benefits’ of hosting this paradise for match fixing gamblers will be in Australia? 

I can only see disruption, congestion and the equivalent of backpackers having noisy parties every night for ten weeks.

Anthony says:

04:15pm | 13/12/09

It’s time for soccer to get its turn in this country. Hell the NRL had their World Cup last season - pointless really when there are only 3 competitive teams worthy of winning (aus, nz and eng)... yet there were no arguments from rival codes. Union had there turn before that. The AFL have tried to expand their game but lets face it its only truly followed by 3 states.
This country would be stupid to not want the soccer world cup, as it will boost the economy 3 times over to that of the Summer Olympics. So come Australia and get behind the world game

Doug Richards says:

06:18pm | 13/12/09

Association football?

Hand ball cheats, match fixing, players with only one name (I presume they don’t know who their fathers’ were), ‘soccer hooligianism’ and a rather silly off-side rule.  God gave us both arms and legs, so they should be used in equal proportion in a sport.

Not all young people can play Association Football well - it takes a certain body type and skill set.  There are more opportunities for different body types in the Rugby codes and NFL. 

And I don’t like AFL either.  No decent tackling, no off-side and having to hand ball rather than pass it properly.

A pox on both your houses.

And the most popular team sport in Australia is lawn bowls.

Shane From Melbourne says:

09:16pm | 13/12/09

Strange thing about soccer is that you never know whether you’re watching a diving competion or a handball competition. It’s hard to take seriously a sport that has only one umpire and two assistants on the field. But then again soccer is a game where cheats always prosper….

Maradona says:

11:42pm | 13/12/09

The benefits of hosting a fifa world cup would be really clear if you have a look at the statistics on how many people all over the world are passionate about the game. Someone correct me if i’m wrong but the fifa world cup is way bigger than the olympics
It definately would hurt the NRL & AFL game if the fifa world cup was held by us. In the end I’m pretty positive the politicians would more than likely love to get than hands on the fifia world cup.

jim says:

07:43am | 14/12/09

Davo from St Kilda, maybe you would be less bored by Football if we added an extra set of posts outside the goal posts so that if the players miss with their shot they actually still get half a point?! Would that make it more interesting for you?

jim says:

07:44am | 14/12/09

Davo from St Kilda, maybe you would be less bored by Football if we added an extra set of posts outside the goal posts so that if the players miss with their shot they actually still get half a point?! Would that make it more interesting for you?

jim says:

07:50am | 14/12/09

Shane fom Melbourne, do i take it then that your one umpire and 2 assistants rule also applies to cricket?

Doug Richards - what are the benefits to hosting the world cup, um it’s like the summer olympics - remember that little festival thing in 2000? - only much bigger

Doug Richards says:

05:21pm | 14/12/09

I remember the Olympics, how exactly did they benefit us?

Congestion and had to close Sydney down for three weeks.

People were told that they had to take their holidays and that they would be better off heading out of town.

No thanks.

Real Footy Fan says:

06:51am | 15/12/09

I love this world game spin from the soccer sheep. My understanding is that soccer is an English game. Spread around the world by the British Empire. So up until that time most of the world did not play a ball game or was unable to invent one. Here in Australia while the rest of the world sitting on it collective bums waiting for the English. We took the initiative and invented our own Australian game just like the English did with soccer and Rugby roughly about the same time. The point is the rest the world was starved of choice. I am sure that if they had a chance to play Australian Football at that time the result would be different.

Valium no prescription says:

04:46am | 18/12/09

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nimal says:

01:55pm | 16/02/10

I must have literally asked hundreds of people, what do you like about soccer? Every time they respond, “it’s the world game”. Frankly, that is a pathetic and revealing reason for liking something.

I am not buying this idea that this is an event of such magnitude and importance that Australia *must* host it if at all possible, and that everything else should make way. This ‘status’ means nothing to me and most Australians, certainly a hell of a lot less than my local football.  How do you think EPL fans would react if the NFL told them they needed to shut down the league and not use Wembley for eight weeks because they want to play an exhibition game in London?  Does that seem ridiculous to you, well it makes about as much sense to me as the demands of the FFA/FIFA.

Most Australians care about soccer and the World Cup about as much as they care about a traveling circus. Sure it might be exciting to have the circus come to town but would you accept a thousand dollar increase in your rates as a consequence? Soccer supporters fantasize that their interests are the interests of the broader Australian public and characterize anyone that doesn’t agree with them as ‘insular’ and fatuously ‘monocultural’.  Of course the evidence shows that Australians much prefer activities and sports other than soccer, so naturally we are nearly all insular and monocultural by their standards.

There are many logical reasons we shouldn’t host the World Cup. Claims of benefits are all intangible, for example Australia already has a relatively high profile in the world, it doesn’t need further exposure. Tourism benefits are overstated and all inflationary costs are discounted. It cannot be done without considerable expense to taxpayers and unreasonable disruption to other competitions. We don’t have the necessary infrastructure and all solutions to providing such infrastructure require massive sums of taxpayer money for stadiums that are largely not suitable for soccer in any case. Given the financial loss Germany experienced even when they had established infrastructure, and the fivefold increase of costs in South Africa, it will very likely have a billion dollar net negative impact on our economy.

If the FFA wants the World Cup in Australia, it should build its game, build its own stadiums and fund the event entirely out of its own pocket instead of continually expecting to be subsidized by taxpayers and other sports. I think that is only fair considering other mainstream sports have self funded their development and are not reliant of government hand outs.