Football in Australia needs the Socceroos "to succeed at the Asian Cup," according to the AAP. Fan
numbers, future players and "plenty of dollars are on the line" in the
Australian-hosted tournament, according to Professional Footballers
Australia. PFA CEO Adam Vivian said the
tournament was "crucial to fostering the next generation of players and
supporters in an extremely competitive Australian sporting market." Australia coach Ange Postecoglou's 23-man squad will "share in" up to A$2.6M ($2.1M) depending on how far it progresses through the Cup -- and players stand
to earn A$114,600 each "if they claim the trophy for the first time." But "more than the players' pay day, the tournament will set the tone for key agreements." The
Socceroos, Matildas and A-League collective bargaining agreements "all
end in June, making their re-negotiation a priority for the code." A new broadcast deal for the sport needs to be finalized next year -- "something that would be boosted by an Asian Cup title." And Vivian hopes to "seize the opportunity to lay a platform the code's future by making playing careers more lucrative." He said, "We
want to position professional football as the most attractive option
for our elite footballers coming through the system, making football a
sport of choice" (AAP, 1/8). In Melbourne, Peter Rolfe reported football chiefs say they are "not the fun police, despite banning beach balls, horns, hooters and vuvuzelas from the Asian Cup." The size of banners and posters waved by fans "has also been restricted as authorities focus on safety amid heightened terror fears" at the biggest football tournament ever staged in Australia. Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop said that fans "would be encouraged to cheer and dance." But "megaphones, hooters or gas-powered horns, including vuvuzelas,
which were a feature of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, would not be
permitted and anyone caught with them would be evicted" (HERALD SUN, 1/7).
