If Australia wins the 2018 or 2022 world cup of Soccer.

[the joker]

THE AFL and NRL would have to take mid-season breaks of up to eight weeks if Australia were to host the soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Soccer chiefs are in advanced discussions with the AFL, NRL and rugby union about having first use of the nation's best multi-purpose stadia leading up to and during any Australian-hosted World Cup.

The rival codes would have to agree to at least a four-week mid-season shutdown while the tournament is underway in June and July, because of FIFA regulations locking out other major sports in each host city.

And FIFA also demands a four-week lead-in period at each host venue prior to the World Cup.

That means AFL and NRL matches during that period could not be played at stadiums being used for the tournament.

Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley admitted yesterday his sport would have to convince the AFL and NRL to rejig their seasons in some way during an Australian World Cup.

But he believed the outlook was positive for cross-code co-operation, especially with the carrot of improved stadiums as part of any World Cup hosting.

"We've met with all the sporting codes and they're all in broad agreement about the importance of the FIFA World Cup for Australia and the legacy it would deliver in terms of sporting infrastructure," Buckley said yesterday. "There's a precedent in relation to the Sydney Olympics and the Rugby World Cup."

Soccer would need to get all other codes onside quickly and publicly, with visible disharmony usually spelling death for World Cup bids.

But the upside for the AFL, NRL and rugby union is the prospect of taxpayer-funded redevelopment for their existing stadiums, or brand-new ones which would be used for their sports after the World Cup. The FFA has just over a week to present its final costings to the federal government, while it must lodge stadium and infrastructure plans.

[the joker]

well i dont know how i could handle no AFL for 8 weeks in the middle of Footy season....

[MatteeG]

Make the FFA build their own damn stadiums LOL

[Booney]

[Rams52]

well i dont know how i could handle no AFL for 8 weeks in the middle of Footy season....

Could be a bonus for the SANFL and local/country footy, I know of quite a few people from our club who often miss our games to go to Crows/Power games. Hopefully, the people who have been putting the AFL first will spend a bit of time watching SANFL or local footy.

[Rik E Boy]

LMAO. Soccer is dying already in this country. WOFTAM. Check out the empty seats at the A League games this season. A League is the NBL of the future. Bring in some more teams. Imagine letting the corrupt world body allowing a non TV friendly nation to host the cup.

regards,

REB

[Interceptor]

well i dont know how i could handle no AFL for 8 weeks in the middle of Footy season....

Could be a bonus for the SANFL and local/country footy, I know of quite a few people from our club who often miss our games to go to Crows/Power games. Hopefully, the people who have been putting the AFL first will spend a bit of time watching SANFL or local footy.

That would be the only plus side IMO.
I was luke warm to the World Cup bids before, now I hope they fail.
The AFL & NRL are weak as p1ss if they bow to their soccer overlords and go ahead with a massively interrupted season.

[Dirko]

The AFL & NRL are weak as p1ss if they bow to their soccer overlords and go ahead with a massively interrupted season.

They may have no say in it.

If they are successful, I dare say the management of the MCG, Docklands, ANZ, Suncorp or wherever would bend over backward to accommodate the single biggest sporting event in the world.

And the season may not be as interrupted as one thinks. Footy Park could still host Footy, as could Skilled Stadium, Princes Park could take a few minor games ie Roos v Freo, The WACA could host Footy again, as would the Gabba and SCG. Will be a new stadium at the Gold Coast then so throw them in plus the SCG. Would limit crowd numbers especially in Victoria, but it can work.

[Psyber]

I'd be pretty put off if our football were interrupted for a mere Soccer tournament.
Despite having played the game a little in my middle teens I find Soccer boring to watch.

[Barto]

A break in the middle of the season. Might start a trend

[The Jack]

I'd be pretty put off if our football were interrupted for a mere Soccer tournament.
Despite having played the game a little in my middle teens I find Soccer boring to watch.

Ha! Your loss mate!

[Wedgie]

Still got Kardinia Park, Subiaco, SCG, Gabba and a few other places such as Cairns, Darwin, Manuka, etc.
Save all the crap games up for that period and play them at those grounds.
Simple.

[Psyber]

I'd be pretty put off if our football were interrupted for a mere Soccer tournament.
Despite having played the game a little in my middle teens I find Soccer boring to watch.

Ha! Your loss mate!

As I have other things to do in life, it's no loss to me..

[stan]

FFS you know we have to actually qualify for 3 world cups in a row before we can be considered to host one. Did anyone know that, so far we have 2 in a row on the back of players like Tim Cahil. If you have a look at the A-League for example you will see that as soon as those players move on there isnt that much to back them up with, so dont start firing rounds just yet.

[Interceptor]

Would playing the tournament in October/November be too much to ask?
Anyway the other codes are pretty non-plussed about it:

Anger at FIFA code violation

Jon Ralph and Steve Gee | October 23, 2009 11:30pm

PLANS to shut down the AFL and NRL seasons for two months during a soccer World Cup have sparked a cross-code furore with powerbrokers branding FIFA arrogant.

AFL and NRL officials yesterday took a united stand in rejecting a proposed FIFA suspension of both codes during the middle of their seasons, should Australia win the right to host the world's biggest sporting event in 2018 or 2022.

Several also condemned the Federal Government for splurging $43 million for a bid that could result in a winter blackout of the domestic football codes.

Under FIFA rules, all major rival sporting events must be halted during the month-long World Cup and all venues quarantined for a month beforehand.

Although Football Federation Australia has refused to confirm the plan, its impact could significantly affect the AFL season; the NRL season and State-of-Origin matches; Super rugby union fixtures; season memberships; broadcasting rights; and ticket sales.

NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday led a chorus of opposition, describing any shutdown as unworkable, while Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett compared the prospect to "cutting off your arm".

Both the AFL and NRL said they were still awaiting a proposal from FFA.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said yesterday the league was undecided on how it would approach the logistics of such a massive interruption.

"We haven't yet seen a detailed explanation from the FFA as to what would be required from other major sporting organisations in Australia, so I would rather wait to see that," Demetriou said.

Gallop went a step further.

"We will obviously wait until they do that, but on the face of it we couldn't see how it would work," he said.

NRL clubs have threatened to revolt, with several chief executives saying they did not see why rival codes should give soccer a free kick.

Penrith CEO Mick Leary said: "What do you tell the players, you can go to the beach for the month? Then you've got your membership to think of and when are we going to finish, playing on Christmas Eve or something?"

Manly chairman Scott Penn agreed.

"The notion of postponing the competition is going a bit far. For us to not play for a month in peak time is probably stretching the friendship," he said.

Should Australia's bid to host the World Cup succeed, FIFA will require 12 venues, with the MCG, Etihad Stadium and ANZ Stadium in its sights.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/sport/afl/story/0,26547,26252352-5016212,00.html

[RustyCage]

Tell FIFA to stick it up their......

[Dirko]

FFS you know we have to actually qualify for 3 world cups in a row before we can be considered to host one. Did anyone know that

When did this rule come in ?

South Africa hosting 2010, yet haven't made 3 cups in a row (Only qualified twice)
Japan only made 1 World Cup before co-hosting in 2002.

I could probably find other examples, but if you can find the reference to 3 in a row or making the finals 3 times that'd be great.

[spell_check]

That would be good news for the AFLSA comp in '18 or '22.

[Psyber]

And who cares anyway..?
I enjoyed playing Soccer in the rather undisciplined way kids having fun do, but as a professional sport it is so over-controlled that a nil all draw is a common result.
No wonder there is violence in the crowd, there is not much going on, on the field, to relieve the tension.

[Dirko]

And who cares anyway..?

You must care one way or the other otherwise, why would you waste your precious time posting in this thread ?