Prev
Next

Well, at least we won a soccer cup bid…

Peter Rowe

by Peter Rowe

07 Jan 05:40am

Must Reads

The Punch is moving house - this is a caption

The Punch is moving house

385

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this? - this is a caption

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

122

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming” - this is a caption

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

251

Filed under: Asian Cup, Football, Soccer, World Cup

38 comments

There are consolation prizes and there are Asian Cup bids.

Illustration: Warren Brown

I’m not sure which is worse, given the news Australia was the only nation willing to host the 2015 Asian Cup - and given the shock horror announcement this morning we’d actually won the thing.

How does one ‘win’ a competition where there’s only one entry?

Detractors from other codes will chuckle, and question the validity of the event.

But does AFL or League have such a base in Asia, where a tournament can be staged with 16 nations - 12 of those credible competitors?

We all know the answer there, even if Messrs. Demetriou and Gallop think otherwise.

Bottom line, Australia got the rights to host what many - especially in Europe and the Americas - see as a third-rate tournament.

Third rate? I can hear the screams of anguish from the halls of SBS already, yet the Asian Cup sits fairly and squarely behind the World Cup, the European Championships, the South American titles and a couple of other tournaments in the big picture painted so eloquently by FIFA chief Sepp Blatter only last month.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to bash football (or soccer still to some). I’m trying to see where any benefit can be gained after the admission following our World Cup disaster that $45 million of taxpayer money was spent trying to secure the 2022 tournament.

And given the announcement that just $23 million is expected to return via a GDP boost as a result of these Asian games, it doesn’t take a Joe Hockey to figure out the economic loss.

What football needs right now is a new focus after the disappointment of the World Cup fiasco.

Yet our bid for the 2022 World Cup saw national newspapers devote front pages and spreads galore, and the Asian Cup ratification? Two thirds of a page five pages in from the back.

Even our own media is finding it hard to write a good news story.

But there should be plenty to build on if we are to be seen as a major player in Asian business as well as Asian sport.

The fledgling A-League is hardly fledgling anymore, given we’re in year six, yet it is still struggling to stay afloat in a saturated sports marketplace.

Its failure to connect with a growing grassroots - up three per cent again in 2010 -  is the one main question mark against FFA boss Ben Buckley.

The former AFL executive has brought a lot of stability to the game at its higher echelons, but his organisation has failed to connect with the hundreds of thousands of players - and supporters - who still contribute more revenue by way of registration fees than any other code.

The A-League was seen by many as the link between the two.

It hasn’t happened - in fact in some franchise areas it has seen the gap grow even wider as fans of the code become more disenfranchised with a league that is either too expensive to watch, boring or just far inferior to what they can watch live on their TVs from Europe every weekend.

If they can watch it at all because A-League is only available on Pay TV - and free to air coverage in other sports has reaped obvious benefits - just look at AFL and League’s overall community standing.

AFL is currently spending around $9 million trying to grow its brand through NSW and Queensland. FFA’s model is the complete opposite, spending virtually zero.

The 2015 Asian Cup should - and I stress the word ‘should’ - be used as the catalyst to reconnect those at grassroots level with A-League, with W-League and with the Socceroos - without asking for more money.

A time to put back, a time to give the game a major lift at its base levels.

If the spin off from hosting an Asian Cup is to see funds made available to assist the tens of thousands running local clubs to give their kids the chance to aspire to reach the top - in Asia or Europe - then the bid can be seen as a success.

Because the consolation of losing the 2022 World Cup bid could be the establishment of the next generation of Socceroos, ready to challenge the world to even greater heights.

Most commented

38 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Fil Osopher says:

      06:44am | 07/01/11

      I’d be really happier if we’d won a hospital or a fleet of buses.

      Reply

    • marinermaaate says:

      07:06am | 07/01/11

      There was only one bidder as AFC had told other interested nations that it would go to Australia, no matter what.

      I’m looking forward to seeing the tournament here, much more fitting of our place as an emerging nation in football. Hosting a world cup would be great but there is a longer queue for that one. Best to focus on being regular contenders to win that trophy imo.

      Defending the asia cup on home turf could be nice too !

      Reply

    • BMJ says:

      07:17am | 07/01/11

      Comparing the strength of football to the established codes is an argument that cannot won by football fans. It’s obvious that league, AFL etc are miles in front in Australia and it will take a generation for that to change.

      It’s a hard task. Not only must the FFA keep the ground it has made it has to work harder than any other code to catch up to the others. It’s a tough gig to suck in new fans where the other codes just have to keep old fans happy.

      Reply

    • marinersmaaate says:

      08:39am | 07/01/11

      or they could just focus on turning us into a powerhouse of Asian football. The others sports are doing their own thing, good luck to them. We have bigger fish to fry in the football world.

    • Rosie says:

      07:22am | 07/01/11

      Sheer embarrassment! 2015 Cup! We didn’t win anything we were the only nation willing to host it!

      As a proud sporting nation this country has become a laughing stock ever since Julia Gillard became PM without controversy.

      “Cricket” in for a bloody good hiding, knew it as soon as I saw her shaking Captain Clarke’s hand and then in the box on the McGrath’s Pink Day talking to the commentors.

      While Gillard is PM we will be in for more hidings and embarrassment, not even mentioning what is happening with our QLD flood victims. Premier Bligh abandoned them to spend New Year’s Eve in Sydney. I blame the controversial way she became PM, nothing to do with her personally.

      Reply

    • Soccer fan says:

      08:23am | 07/01/11

      bwahahaha. Blaming Gillard or the govt for the dismal performance of cricket team is outrageously funny. You are funny rosie. very funny. I am just surprised you didnt say that if Abbot would have been the PM, he would have batted and bowled and fielded for Australia and won the ashes for us. LoL.

    • The Badger says:

      09:30am | 07/01/11

      Soccer fan
      Be kind to the old bitty
      Dementia is nothing to laugh about.

    • NicoleG says:

      09:49am | 07/01/11

      Badger, it’s certainly not funny. Neither is multi personality disorder. BTW, have you sought help for that yet?

    • Davidson says:

      10:25am | 07/01/11

      If I had anything to do with the Australian cricket team I also would be putting the blame on anyone or anything for the team’s dismal performance! Shock Horror and the worst start for cricket fans in 2011, like myself who can’t handle a heavy defeat from the Poms, any other country but the Poms. I can understand what you are going through Rosie. It is getting that way that everything our PM touches turns to s#%t.

    • The Mechanic says:

      10:30am | 07/01/11

      NicoleG
      I think he was just trying to get you to hit your head on the desk.
      Might fix loosen up that right wingnut.

    • NicoleG says:

      10:44am | 07/01/11

      Ok, so you haven’t. You owe me a stack hat Badger.

    • TimB says:

      11:09am | 07/01/11

      Nicole, we need to keep a list of all Badger’s alias’s.

      I’m pretty sure we’ve confirmed Mr Mustela, NicoleF, and now The Mechanic.

      And I have a strengthening suspicion that Badger is also the troll behind “jane wallace”, “john tracey”, “sandra nelson”, “kerrie o’rourke”, and “guy lee hanlon”.

      Any others that I’ve missed? The people need to be warned.

    • NicoleG says:

      11:24am | 07/01/11

      I think you’ve pretty much nailed it Tim. Although I’m pretty sure we can add Mr Mustard to the list too. I’ll keep counting though.

    • The other one says:

      11:32am | 07/01/11

      It’s all a great big conspiracy theory timmie

      Half the time I am a right wing conservative supporting your drivel, next I’m an overweight middle aged woman, then I’m a teenaged drug addict, followed by a 70 year old cancer survivor. Then I’m a coal miner, a farmer and a lawyer.

    • TimB says:

      12:44pm | 07/01/11

      Yet among all your personas one thing remains constant: An IQ that doubles as a shoe size.

    • Just Sayin' says:

      06:01pm | 07/01/11

      I don’t know about all the aliases, but as occupation, I’m pretty sure The Badger is a ‘political expert’.

      The Badger says:
      03:20pm | 18/08/10
      @ Mark
      Rubbish
      I’m a political expert and I believe the coalition will wander in the desert for ten years.
      It will take them that long to get rid of the rubbish that should have been thrown out when Howard was.

    • The Badger says:

      10:27am | 08/01/11

      Just saying
      why didn’t you scroll a little further down the thread to post this comment as well?

      “@ Barry
      You got it in one.
      There are no bozo’s on this bus called the punch
      @Brian Taylor
      Lighten up, it’s joke.
      We all make claims we can’t back up. We point to articles that support our position or unfortunately blindly support the position of our party.
      When election time comes round, it seems many posters here don’t bother to think and blindly follow their political “how to reply card”. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps neither of the positions is better than the other and the solution lies somewhere in between?

      Men build too many walls and not enough bridges.
      Isaac Newton ”

    • Rob says:

      08:11am | 07/01/11

      A-League games are far too expensive to watch in person for the quality of the players on show. Bring adult tickets down to $10 and you might get the crowd figures up…in doing so you’ll get a better atmosphere which will then breed more loyal fans. I’m a Leicester City fan…god knows it was usually only the atmosphere at the game that kept me going to watch week in week out!

      Reply

    • Bob H says:

      09:16am | 07/01/11

      The head of FFA has done an excellent job, unfortunately good for the AFL.

      Reply

    • Seneca says:

      09:38am | 07/01/11

      Can we go back to calling it “soccer” please?

      Maybe then Australians will show some interest.

      Viva the Australian Soccer Federation !

      Reply

    • chucky says:

      11:17am | 07/01/11

      You’re right Seneca. While some idiots still insist on calling it “football” in Australia, soccer doesn’t have a chance here - because it will continue to be regarded as an embarrassing joke.

    • Punters Pal says:

      10:12am | 07/01/11

      Thank god we didn’t win the Football World Cup. $45m was a small price to pay for Lowy / Rudd vanity project. It would have cost us many times more to host the bloody thing and for reward, Australian laws and human rights would have been raped over by FIFA.

      Only good thing out of this that by giving the World Cups to doubious regimes like Russia and Qatar, FIFA have contributed towards their own demise and hopefully their corrupt ways will be discredited in the future.

      Reply

    • kerrie o'rourke says:

      10:18am | 07/01/11

      if england does not compete,then Australia might win/
      In 2915,USA will be 15 trillion dollars
      Surely australia can beat the yanks at something

      Reply

    • K says:

      10:28am | 07/01/11

      One good point, soccer needs some free to air coverage. As a boy I watched Richo play on the tv and though that I’d love to go see him live. How can children develop sporting heroes in the A-league if they never see them play?

      Reply

    • Harquebus says:

      01:34pm | 07/01/11

      Another useless costly sporting event. I can hardly wait. (sarc)

      Reply

    • Richard says:

      03:50pm | 07/01/11

      The quality of football in the A-League has taken a remarkable step up this season, (admittedly, I’ve only been watching the Brisbane Roar games, but my god have they been fantastic!)

      I just wish I had foxtel or they were televised on free to air so that I could catch all of them.

      Reply

    • tommy says:

      04:15pm | 07/01/11

      all you anti real football ( SOCCER ) sceptics make me laugh.our world game is putting australia on the map. at least rugby league and rugby have a few select countries playing their code.  AFL will never ever be recognised as a sport outside australia.        we wont see it in our life times ,  but real football( soccer) will be the NO 1 SPORT.i cant wait to hear your response.

      Reply

    • A Dose of Reality says:

      11:40pm | 07/01/11

      We’ve been hearing this rubbish since the ‘70s!  You seem so concerned that Aussies prefer other codes of football rather than with the game you profess to follow! 

      Simply because I support a different code does not mean I am “anti-soccer”.  This is a basic concept in logic.

      On a more serious note (than those with an inferiority complex) soccer needs to actually determine what it is that has kept the game from growing.

    • Chester V says:

      05:09pm | 07/01/11

      Soccer is not on free to air if it was there would be more interest but FFA foolishly thought Foxtel would promote a game that would compete with its other code interests.  Can’t see why the wobbly ballers get all defensive in articles that mention the game, as they are completely different sports,. Why not whinge when a tennis article appears about tennis not scoring goals at all or swimming they don’t even use a ball.

      Reply

    • A Dose of Reality says:

      11:53pm | 07/01/11

      Foxtel will go for the money.  It is stupid to think it will do anything else.  Notwithstanding that fact - it cannot be “blamed” for the game’s lack of development in Australia.

      That lies more directly with SBS - which allows the fan (rather than supporter) to watch the cheaper broadcast from overseas.  Maybe if SBS spent a dollar and showed more local rather than o/s games the Aussie clubs would actually have some supporters.  They might even turn up to the games!!!

      “wobbly ballers”?  are you referring to old fellas who’s dangle moves a little more with the passing of the years?

    • guy Lee Hanlon says:

      06:04pm | 07/01/11

      A Labor Prime Minister, or an Australia Republic President. yet announced will open the event.
      by then,kevin rudd, julia gillard and julia gillard’s Labor Prime Minister successor will have been dethroned by the federal ALP.
      by then, tony abbott will be on work for the dole.

      Reply

    • guy Lee Hanlon says:

      06:05pm | 07/01/11

      australia will be knocked out in round one.

      Reply

    • guy Lee Hanlon says:

      06:06pm | 07/01/11

      Tim B to marry Nicole G in the opening ceremony.

      Reply

    • NicoleG says:

      06:44pm | 07/01/11

      It’s such a shame you live in WA Badger, because I really feel the need to really slap you.

    • The Badger says:

      07:15pm | 07/01/11

      Nicole
      you really have no idea where to look do you?

    • fairsfair says:

      11:06pm | 07/01/11

      Badger you are a car crash - people can’t help but look.

    • guy Lee Hanlon says:

      06:17pm | 07/01/11

      by then australia will be better at soccer than at cricket and so asian cup finals will be a success as the fthe australian clientele of oreign restaurants will attend all matches for sure.

      Reply

    • A Dose of Reality says:

      12:15am | 08/01/11

      “Detractors from other codes will chuckle, and question the validity of the event.” 

      Amusing - why do soccer fans have the need to vilify those who follow the other codes?  Either we don’t like soccer (which means we don’t care) or we do like the game but prefer another.  Pretty simple really!

      Yes it’s funny when grown men throw themselves on the ground like my 2 y/o daughter ‘cause a hair’s out of place, but if that aspect can be ignored it is an enjoyable game.  (and if intestinal fortitude is of importance you can always watch the girl’s league - they battle to end).

      As a football supporter (all over the world, the dominant code locally is referred to as the generic term “football” and in SA that’s Aussie Rules) I have gone to soccer games (A-League) and quite enjoyed it.

      I see no reason as to why an international event could be considered invalid - surely it must help the game locally, particularly as how the game is not as strong locally as it could be (and the international event is covering a growth area for the game).

      The only question could be as to funding - in SA the Hindmarsh Stadium was a gift from the government - paid for by taxpayer’s money.  Only cricket gets a better government gift (Adelaide oval - endless lease and token rent).  the other codes generate their own cash and assets, and can reasonably ask - why can’t soccer do the same thing? 

      For the game’s sake, all the soccer “fans” in Australia need to become supporters.  That is paid up members of a club and season ticket holders to the games. 

      For as long as they sit at home and watch SBS telecasts of foreign games the code will go nowhere in this country, and they will continue to dream up that it is someone else’s fault.

      Reply
 
Sorry, comments are now closed for this article.

Facebook Recommendations

Read all about it

Punch live

Up to the minute Twitter chatter

Daniel Piotrowski

drpiotrowski 25 May 13 12:59PM

RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…

tory_maguire

_Tors 25 May 13 12:42PM

RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…

Daniel Piotrowski

drpiotrowski 25 May 13 12:03PM

Australia. Where you die for your country and get a rest area named after you http://t.co/hO6LpfwDvI

ToryShepherd

ToryShepherd 25 May 13 11:09AM

@benpobjie @jessadamson7 @jhwakelin kinda creepy from a high school cheerleader #misheardlyrics

See all tweets

Recent posts

The latest and greatest

The Punch is moving house

by The Punch Team

385

The Punch is moving house

Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

by Hannah Harborow

122

Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?

I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

by Sarrah Le Marquand

251

Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”

In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…

Nosebleed Section

choice ringside rantings

From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go

Tim says:

They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]

From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go

Kel says:

If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]

Light weight

Gentle jabs to the ribs

Superman needs saving

Superman needs saving

Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more

28 comments

Newsletter

Read all about it

Sign up to the free News.com.au newsletter