By Duncan Mackay
December 13 – The row between the rival codes will not be allowed to overshadow the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, the head of Football Federation Australia (FFA) Ben Buckley (pictured) promised today.
The Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) both claimed last week that if Australia were awarded the World Cup then they might be forced to abandon their seasons to accommodate the tournament as some of their main stadiums would be out of use for long periods.
But Buckley has claimed that the row has been blown out of proportion and will be worked out.
He told the Herald Sun in an interview published today: “We’re confident we’ll get the support of the whole nation.
“This is the biggest sporting event in the world.
“Both [the AFL and NRL] have said they are supportive of the bid.
“They just want to ensure their stakeholders aren’t disadvantaged dramatically.
“I don’t think the issues we’ve got are going to be detrimental to our bid. I think we have a very strong bid.
“Every country around the world will have to deal with some of its unique set of circumstances.”
Buckley denied accusations that the rival codes were being forced to cooperate with the World Cup bid at the expense of their own sports.
He said: “I don’t think anyone has been railroaded.
“I think there is widespread support from many, many NRL fans and many, many AFL fans.
“We live in a country where we are blessed with the sports that are available to fans.
“We have never said that the season needs to be cancelled.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734910621labto1734910621ofdlr1734910621owedi1734910621sni@y1734910621akcam1734910621.nacn1734910621ud1734910621.
Related stories
December 2009: Australian World Cup bid hit by Aussie Rules row
November 2009: Australian States unhappy over lack of coordination of World Cup bid