The Official Australian A-League Thread

[walchy]

Yeha, Palmer has been a wanker about this all. Hopefully we can get a new owner etc.

[LittleOzzy]

[kdawg32086]

The Grand Final is up tonight. Go Brisbane Roar. Issey Nakajima-Farran is gonna be a stud for Canada.

[jerrod]

what an unfortunate ending

[LittleOzzy]

Australian federation asks FIFA for World Cup bid compensation as Qatar 2022 mulls winter move

As FIFA edges towards a momentous decision to move the 2022 World Cup to wintertime to dodge Qatar's scalding summer heat, one of Australian soccer's most powerful figures has challenged the sport's governing body to refund the millions of dollars his nation spent on its failed 2022 bid.

Frank Lowy, the billionaire shopping-mall magnate who serves as chairman of Football Federation Australia, made waves across the globe on Monday as he urged FIFA to repay Australia and the rest of the unsuccessful bidders for 2022 in light of the event's potential schedule change.

“Australia, like the other bidding nations, was required by FIFA’s own rules to pitch for a World Cup in the June and July window,” said Lowy in a statement released by FFA. “Changing the dates is tantamount to changing the rules after the contest is over. If that happens, compensation should be paid to those nations that invested many millions, and national prestige, in bidding for a summer event.”

According to a report on FoxSports Australia, the Australian 2022 bid spent A$43 million – about $40 million in US currency – but finished fifth in the final vote behind Qatar, the United States, South Korea and Japan. The entire process is currently under investigation by FIFA's ethics committee.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has already said FIFA wouldn't be inclined to reimburse Australia, or any of the other losing bids, according to several reports.

FIFA's Executive Committee is set to gather next month to discuss president Sepp Blatter's recommendation that Qatar 2022 be moved to a November to January window in order to avoid the desert nation's triple-digit summer temperatures. It's a controversial idea which has many leagues, broadcasters and federations up in arms.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... 022-mulls-

[LittleOzzy]

Season just got underway a few weeks ago, no one from Australia watching?

[LittleOzzy]

Still not much interest in this league in Australia?

[Jez2983]

Probably just not with people on this board. I pay a little attention to Adelaide as they're my home team, but wouldn't actually be able to tell you anything about their season (I think they drew with Western Sydney a few weeks ago away?)

We've got plenty of other sports to keep us interested, especially now we aren't heaps rubbish at cricket.

[LittleOzzy]

Anyone watching the A-League this season?

[Jez2983]

Anyone watching the A-League this season?

Similar to last time for me!

[LittleOzzy]

Anyone watching the A-League this season?

Similar to last time for me!

Have you noticed the league growing in popularity at all?

[Jez2983]

Anyone watching the A-League this season?

Similar to last time for me!

Have you noticed the league growing in popularity at all?

Hard to say as I live in rural South Australia. We have 3 local teams, 1 of which is a migrant Masters team who started the comp and are in their 50's.

I'd guess the BBL expansion limited soccer growth and it's still primarily 1st-2nd generation descendents of European families that make up a lot of the support in SA. People care on a state-wide level around finals/Asian league stuff.

One of my students was dating a player and had no idea who United was/how big they were before she was

Overall I guess it's slowly expanding.

[brutalitops]

Glory just trampled the Roar 6-3, 1 point out of the top 6, huge turnaround. I would of laughed if you had told me we would be a chance for finals, was tipping bottom 2