The National Rugby League’s video bunker could be placed at the center of Football Federation Australia’s "bid to host a trial of video refereeing in the A-League," according to Tom Smithies of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. In what would be an "unlikely code alliance," FFA is considering using the "hi-tech video-referral facility when it seeks permission from FIFA to run a pilot project using a video referee next season." The A$2M ($1.5M) facility in Eveleigh, unveiled by the NRL in February, "will lie dormant for much of the next A-League season and the possibility of having football referees use the technology as part of the FIFA trial has been raised in discussions between FFA and Fox Sports." Though the NRL has not yet been formally approached "it is open to the idea, aware of the possibility of recouping some of the millions it invested in building the Bunker, though the latter stages of the A-League season would present a conflict once the rugby league season begins." A-League Head Damien de Bohun said, "A big part of FFA’s submission to FIFA is the hi-tech capabilities of Australian TV sports broadcasts. That includes the expertise of Australian sports producers and technicians." FFA is confident that Australia’s "track record in broadcasting innovation," coupled with the level of technology used in coverage of the football codes, "will make a compelling case for the A-League to be one of the guinea pigs" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 4/6).
