ACT shelves World Cup support

BY CHRIS DUTTON AND MICHAEL INMAN

27/10/2009 7:41:00 AM

The ACT Government is preparing to turn its back on the world game and withdraw its support for Australia's FIFA World Cup bid and future A-League matches.
ACT sport minister Andrew Barr declared yesterday his intention to back out of Football Federation Australia's 2018 or 2022 World Cup bids in favour of luring a separate sporting ''bonanza'' to the capital.

And in a further blow to the ACT's relationship with the FFA, Mr Barr said the A-League clash between the Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United on Saturday night could be the competition's last at Canberra Stadium. Mr Barr had initially hoped to host World Cup games or have international teams based in Canberra for the duration of the tournament.

But instead of spending millions of dollars on the infrastructure required to be an active participant in the World Cup, he now hopes to throw stranded NRL, AFL and Super rugby teams a Canberra lifeline.

If a bid was successful those codes would be unable to play on World Cup venues for up to two months before and during the tournament.

''[The AFL, NRL and Super15] are going to have to move away from Sydney and Melbourne and it might be strategically to our advantage not to have anything to do with the football World Cup and take extra AFL, rugby league and rugby union [matches] instead,'' Mr Barr said.

''If the other competitions aren't going to go into obedience [with FIFA and suspend action] for that period, then it could be a bonanza for Canberra.

''So we'll just be strategic in what we do in Canberra because we may be able to get the big tourism benefits that we want without having to outlay $200million on a new stadium.''

Canberra needs $200million to upgrade the Canberra Stadium precinct if it is to meet FIFA regulations and host World Cup matches.

Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval will be upgraded to some extent, regardless of the ACT's involvement in the World Cup.

Federal Cabinet meets this week to discuss what funding it will provide to Australia's bid.

The ACT is relying on the Rudd Government to foot the majority of the $200million bill for a new stadium.

The FFA snubbed Canberra's attempt to enter the A-League last month and opted to award the 12th licence to western Sydney.

Mr Barr said there was no point hosting future A-League matches between two out-of-town teams.

Instead, he will lobby the FFA to bring more Socceroos internationals to Canberra Stadium.

Capital Football chief executive Heather Reid is hopeful Canberra would play some role in the World Cup bid to give the region's soccer fans an unforgettable experience.

But former National Soccer League player and father of current Socceroo Carl, Walter Valeri, backed the Government's decision.

''It was a sad day when Canberra got left out of the A-League and it's fair enough to say 'why should we support the World Cup when you can't even give it to us on a regular basis?''' Valeri said.

NRL clubs have already voiced their displeasure and shown unwillingness to ''shut down'' for eight weeks while soccer fever sweeps the country.

Canberra Raiders chairman John McIntyre supported Mr Barr's stance.

Mr McIntyre said the Raiders would be happy to share Canberra with other rugby league and sporting teams to make the capital a thriving national sport hub for the duration of the World Cup.

However, Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar said, ''Every Australian, regardless of what state, needs to support these World Cup bids.

''I think it's very important that all codes, whether its football, rugby, netball, whatever it is, everyone should be supporting it.

''Every state and every government should be supporting it, because it's a massive tournament.''

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