Australia “almost scrapped World Cup bid” after row over stadium

 

 

In the latest dispute with rival codes, Australian newspapers quoted 2022 World Cup chairman Frank Lowy as admitting the $45 million bid was at one point 48 hours away from being scuppered.

Although Lowy believes pulling out of 2018 to concentrate on 2022 has earned him considerable support among FIFA’s eight European voting members, he now admits the Australian bid almost died on its feet hours before the all-important bid book was handed over to FIFA officials in Zurich.

The bickering centred on the AFL, which runs Aussie Rules, playing hardball over the availability of the MCG, a likely venue for either the opening game or the World Cup final.

“We didn’t have the MCG two days before the bid [was due to be finalised], and had we not got the MCG, we could not have fulfilled the requirements of the bid,” Lowy was quoted as saying.

 

“It could not have been submitted – there was two days separating us from being able to put the bid in and not being able to put the bid in.

 

“They [AFL] had certain demands which were excessive, but we agreed in the end, and we have both moved on.

 

“I think they played the game hard, and they are entitled to do that.

 

“But if we had not been able to get this [the MCG] we would not have been able to put the bid in, and I advised the federal government of that.”

 

Rightly or wrongly, the new revelations are bound to provide Australia’s rivals with fresh ammunition in the build-up to the all-important vote on December 2.

 

And if press reports are to be believed, the Aussies have hit a further snag with claims that the dispute with the AFL is far from over.

 

In an exclusive report, The Herald Sun newspaper alleged that the use of the MCG (pictured) is conditional on FIFA giving approval for Aussie Rules to carry on during the World Cup, a scenario the world governing body could be loath to accept.

 

Should the Australian Football Federation (FFA) fail to get that clearance, claims the paper, all bets will be off.

 

The FFA are understood to be arguing that Aussie Rules, being uniquely a national sport, poses no threat whatsoever to the World Cup and 2022 bid spokesman Rod Allen played down the issue.

 

“We are not going to FIFA to get a ruling on that at this time for something we may win and host in 12 years’ time,” Allen said.

 

“What we will do is point to the recent World Cup in South Africa where the South African rugby union team played international fixtures in the same cities that (World Cup) matches were played.

 

“There was no problem there so I would imagine if that was their view with the rugby internationals, then we don’t think it will be an issue.”