Demetriou rules out World Cup shutdown of AFL

[Kosta Utd]

Demetriou rules out World Cup shutdown of AFL

# MICHELANGELO RUCCI

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou last night reaffirmed he will not shut down Australian football for almost two months - June and July - to secure the soccer World Cup for Australia in 2018 or 2022.

Using the AFL season launch in Melbourne as his platform, Demetriou - two days after being called to Canberra by the federal government on the World Cup issue - put up a solid roadblock to Australia's push to host sport's biggest event outside the Olympics.

"The AFL has always said we are happy to accommodate major sporting events - we have a track record to prove it," said Demetriou, whose AFL in 2000 brought forward its premiership season to allow the Olympics in Sydney to meet international sporting calendars.

"But we do not - and will not - accept second place for Australian football. We welcome other sports and major events but we won't allow seven million fans to be deprived of Australia's indigenous game. Nor put at risk the jobs of so many associated with our game."

Demetriou's stance - which denies soccer access to major stadia controlled by the AFL - hurts Football Federation Australia's planningfor the World Cup bids, in particular its bid books which must be lodged in May.

[Kosta Utd]

biggest event outside the olympics??? is rucci an idiot? IT IS BIGGER THAN THE OLYMPICS

what a dick demetriou is

[Nice One Cyril]

To be fair to him, he's only doing what he's (well) paid to do, and that is look after his own sport.

If the Govt seriously wants to attract the WC then they should just build 2 or 3 rectangular football stadia that meet FIFA's requirements and not be beholden to the AFL. If they hadn't wasted the legacy from the Liberals by chucking away billions of dollars on stimulus packages, they'd be able to afford it easily.

[Stitch This]

If they hadn't wasted the legacy from the Liberals by chucking away billions of dollars on stimulus packages, they'd be able to afford it easily.

[THE ORACLE]

I BET NONE OF YOU TURNED DOWN YOUR STIMULOUS PACKAGES.

[pino]

Trust me the government will stomp on them if they fail to help out on the bid. Starting with cutting government funding. Does this farkwit not realise it is not just about sport but for the benefit of our Nation??

[bapa]

Unfortunately, AFL rules the sport here in Aus.
Until football can hold its own, through venues and corporate dollars, AFL will always rule supreme. Even scandals, drugs and explotation of women, the AFL just sweeps it under the covers and moves on!

[HandyMan]

IF AUSTRALIA GET THE WORLD CUP
THE AFL WILL HAVE NO SAY.
IT WILL HAPPEN MR DEMETRIOU.

THIS WORLD GAME OF FOOTBALL DWARFS THE OLPYMPICS

UNLIKE YOUR 3 STATE GAME

[THE ORACLE]

the south africans built the stadiums they needed to host the world cup. the bottom line is that if australia is dinkum with their bid they are going to have to do the same. problem here is that we,unfortunately,have far too many politcians in this country with an extra tier of government compared to every other country on the planet. SO,if you want your stadiums built. want the same health system throughout the country. want to see our rivers run as god and nature intended etc etc. then get rid of stupid state governments and their equaly stupid opposition. all they do is hamper the elected federal government [whichever party] and by and large,prevent it from doing its job. remember the old wise saying about too many cooks spoiling the broth. it certainly applies to the australian government system and as a result we,the people, are the ultimate losers. but true

[Red-4-Life]

Demetriou is a fucking fuck you you stupid fucking wanker.

FIFA WORLD CUP >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Olympics
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Paralympics
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>1 season of AFL.