Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop "has described Australian soccer as 'unstoppable' and fired a shot over the bow of cricket in this country at the same time," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN.
Gallop dismissed Friday's start of the popular Big Bash Twenty20 series and "confidently predicted it was the A-League's time in the sun now the Ashes had been regained." The two sports start colliding on Friday, with the Melbourne Stars vs. Melbourne Renegade match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground hitting off at 8:40pm, while A-League leader Brisbane Roar plays the improving Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium at 7pm. Gallop, however, "was unfazed as he launched the 'Summer of Football.'" He said,
"Our game is on a great trajectory that no other sport in this country is on. From the excitement of going to Brazil (for the World Cup next year), to the A-League, the growth of the sport is massive" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/19). In Sydney, Sebastian Hassett reported "branding the round-ball code as 'unstoppable,' Gallop boldly claimed that the Big Bash League was relatively meaningless when compared with the Ashes." Gallop "dismissed the shortened game's legitimacy, saying the A-League had proven pulling power with the public." He said, "The proper cricket ended yesterday. Well done to Australia, but what we've got over the next 17 days is right at the core of our competition that runs over 30 weeks, and it's a make-or-break time. Every match counts" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/19).
