By Duncan Mackay
December 24 – The Australian Government has set-up a special taskforce to try to resolve the bitter row between the rival football codes that is threatening to undermine the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Australia’s Sports Minister Kate Ellis released a statement announcing the formation of the taskforce, to be based within her department and staffed by key bureaucrats.
It follows the dispute between Football Federation Australia (FFA) and the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL), who have both claimed that if Australia is awarded the World Cup they will have to abandon their seasons because they will not be able to use their stadiums for several months.
The bid has also struck a major obstacle finding the 12 FIFA-compliant stadiums needed to host the tournament, as State and Federal governments tussle over who will fund the needed stadium upgrades.
The new taskforce will be charged with sorting out stadium issues and negotiating funding deals between the two tiers of Government as well as repairing relations between the FFA and other codes.
Ellis said: ”One of the strengths of Australia is the diversity of sports on offer.
“It’s critical that other sports are consulted as we finalise the bid.
“The taskforce will assist the FFA to work with all sports to ensure that an Australian World Cup can deliver maximum benefit to sport and the community.”
The Federal Government has committed $45.6 million (£ 25.1 million) to funding the bid and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been an enthusiastic backer of the campaign.
The new taskforce will work hand in glove with former Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon, already appointed by the Government to tackle the State-federal funding wrangle that has handicapped the bid, and will work with rather than replace the existing bid team.
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