Apart from not being a good game to watch compared to Aussie rules there are three major problems with soccer that will ensure that it will continue to be a fringe game in Oz. 1). Just about all our top soccer player leave the country to play with over seas clubs there by reducing the skill level of the local comp. Aussie Kids that don't switch to the other codes once they get out from under Mummy's skirts tend to dream about playing for a overseas club. 2). The English Soccer scores are of more concern to Anglo soccer fan then the A league scores. 3). Despite a lot of work over the last few years many clubs in Australia are still ethically based.
A reading of the Aussie rules players names shows that just about all groups of our wonderful multicultural country have embrace the beautiful game that is Aussie rules.

I tend to agree with the author; now we have cracked the World Cup it will not be too long before we see a sustained world class performance - for no other reasont han we constantly punch above ourweight in most sports - with the exception od track and field perhaps - there's enough room on the paddock for each of the four codes - but I would be nervous if I was a Rugby League fan - they always look about one scandal away from implosion.

AFL is a great game - but so is soccer and Union and to a lesser extent League - comparing them is a waste of time - they each have merit - we should just enjoy the success of all of the codes.

It seems inevitable that soccer/football will continue to gain strength at its elite levels, to the point where it becomes a more competitive mass media sport in Australia. One day, many of the elite players will be able to base themselves here. AFL and RL have nowhere to go as international sports, and true international competition is the key to the long term health of a sport. AFL does not even have a serious state rep competition and its growth outside of the southern states has stalled, while RL and RU have stagnated at the junior levels of the codes. They are all fine codes to watch on their day, but for the long term, soccer will make more inroads into the consciousness of Australian sports consumers at a better rate than the rival codes.

Kenny, you forgot a couple of things, soccer seems to create violence of the field. We are seeing more examples of it now at the world cup. Also its borig except for a couple of seconds, so no wonder the followers get restless and fight each other. Simple minds for a simple game.

We have the same with league, a violent sport that breeds morons on and off the field. Union at least can get interesting with its non stop play. Then we have players rolling in agony on the ground only to jump up and play on after getting the penalty, tough blokes these guys.

But with Aussie rules, its go, go, go, for 120 minutes so everyone has the chance to let of steam as their teams scores and get enjoyment watching the miriade of skills that are displayed in the game from both sides. So I doubt soccer will ever overcome Aussie rules, it will increase in populatirty, as long as its ethnically inclined and produces violence, it will not progress its acceptance. You can see the violence at many junior games around the country already, between parents and supporters. Its a game that tends to breed frustration in spectators

Go the socceroo's, I'll be getting up to watch them flog the Croats and move to the next round.

That soccer is not an Australian game is still reflected in the surnames of most of its players and fans. Until recently, the names of different clubs were ‘ethnic’, non-Australian. Still, there is ill feeling among different ethnic groups at soccer matches. Fights break out among fans in a most “un-Australian” way. AFL players do the fighting for us, on field!

When Greece played the Socceroos here recently, young fans of Greek origin paraded the streets with Greek flags, even though they were several generations down the track Australians. Yesterday, on ABC radio, a World Cup player, born in Australia but playing against Australia because, he said, he felt Croatian. Like many people living in Australia today, he connects with the country of his ancestors more than he does with the country of his birth. He trained at the Australian Institute of Sport to play against the country of his birth!

The ethnic tribal instincts that soccer encouraged in immigrants of the late ‘40’s and the 50’s and 60’s is still there.

AFL and Rugby might be “internationally insignificant”, but AFL at least, is uniquely Australian and, as such, should remain THE game.

Everyone enjoys a circus, and the World Cup has provided one for many people who normally would not follow soccer. The World Cup is a two-week wonder and, hopefully, the hysteria worked up by the media will be short term.

Australia has already been neutered by multiculturalism. It’s high time for Australians to show more feeling for their country than they do for what is merely a pastime. Soccer should remain where it is on the list: AFL, Cricket, Rugby, then Soccer.

Leigh.

You drag out all the negative stereotypes regarding soccer. I remember being chased into Albert Park Lake by Collingwood supporters when they lost to South Melbourne. There have been fights after league games just as there has been with soccer.

Your second paragraph could relate to Andrew Symonds who choose to play for Australia not his country of birth. Of course this is not an option for AFL players.

If you look at the history of AFL it is a very English game, its original law makers going to Rugby school and Cambridge university.

The sleeping giant of soccer is just waking in Australia if you do not see the threat to the internationally irrelevant codes you have rocks in your head.

When Australia get eliminated from the World Cup they then start playing Asian Cup qualification games, again with huge crowds. A-league matches are already gaining higher ratings that super 14 after just 1 season.

Go Footballeroos.

Soccer is a good game for all the little people so they have something to do.

Go the Wallabies!

With regards to soccer, that fact that both the FA cup and its Scottish equivalent were decided after full time by penalty shootouts is a blight on the game.

If an AFL game was a draw the spectators would be too tired emotionaly to brawl in an oraganised fashion, sure theres mini brawls but nothing in the league of soccer hooliganism which erupts before games and after draws etc.

I'll start by declaring that I am a passionate AFL supporter and umpire. But my intention is not to assert the glories of AFL.

What I do want to suggest is that those excitable folks who are prophesying glory for soccer because of the world cup are fooling themselves,for a couple of reasons:

First, the soccer fever at the moment is a result of NATIONALISM,not soccerism. People are enjoying the socceroos' efforts because they are an Aussie team taking on the best in the world - and because they're the underdogs too. It's a great Australian story. But it's kind of like the Olympics-for four years I don't give a stuff about the long jump,or softball,or track cycling,or rowing. But when the Olympics are on,I'll watch with interest-not because I've suddenly developed a passion for those sports,but because I *always* have a passion for Australia.

Second,the deal with Foxtel really works against soccer. They've got blanket coverage on the Soccer Broadcasting Service (isn't that what SBS stands for?) on a Sunday,but because they can't broadcast A League,they broadcast all the overseas games,thus ensuring that it's European Football which continues to reach the mass audience here in Australia.

Third,it's true that soccer is played much more widely than the other codes. But so? AFL thrives *because* it is distinctively Australian,a kind of passionate tribalism. For Rugby League fans, who have a national team and test matches,the undoubted highlight of the year is still State of Origin,between two states. Rugby is truly international,but for many people the games against the All Blacks are the ones which really count. So being the "world game" doesn't of itself prove anything.

Finally,while soccer is not nearly as boring as some people above have suggested,it really does struggle to hold attention and then when something exciting does happen,it usually doesn't result in a score.

I think soccer has a future in Australia,that it will become more and mroe competitive as a game rather than being the maladministered cripple it has been for so long. But it's a little too early to be prophesying dominance.

Anth

The trouble is with soccer is that it has such a large corporate body now,that even evolutionary change is excruiciating slow because of the traditionalists.Soccer or true football has been played for 150 yrs and people have got much taller and with better nuitrition faster.

I've watched many a game whereby an inferior side has won.We have to make scoring more frequent.Why not increase the height and width of goals commensurate with the average increase height of goalkeepers.Football also needs a video ref at crucial moments eg when Mark Viduka was tackled Rugby style by the Croations and blatent handballs in the box ignored by both the ref and linesmen.

Sometimes I would equate a game of soccer with paying a high class prostitute $1000.00 only be tickled with a feather.It can be a very frustrating game.

Well, the only thing that matters now is ... tonight's the night. In Guus we trust!!

Arjay,

Don't you think this thing whereby soccer supporters insist on telling everyone else that theirs is the only true football, is counterproductive?

As I said above, I am first and foremost an AFL fan (incidentally it's been played for 150 years or so too matey). I don't mind having a look at the soccer occasionally. But when you try telling me that your game is "true" football and mine isn't, then my hackles rise.

Given that soccer is starting from the subordinate position in Australia, perhaps antagonising your potential converts is not the best way to begin?

Anth,

What on Earth makes rugby an "truly international" game? I don't recall teams from Ghana, Togo, the Ivory Coast, the Ukraine, Croatia, Portugal, Ecuador, The Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, or least of all, Brazil, competing at the last rugby 'World Cup'. Do you?

Anth,I've played both Rugby codes and the "Real Football".These days,I find Rugby League very predictable and boring.At least Rugby Union has evolved into a more spectacular sport.I think that the scrum is now irrevelant and we should have lineouts in the middle of the field instead.It would save a lot of neck and spinal injuries occuring also.

Now for "The Real Football",as stated previously,the administrators can learn a lot from the evolution of both the rules and policing of infringements that the two Rugby codes have implemented.

In soccer it is time for more video information to be accessed by the ref,otherwise cheating,mediocre sides will continue to steal the accolades,while the brave hearts languish in obscurity.

Did I predict our demise?The red card should never have been given against Italy nor should the penality been given against Lucas Neil.We may as well just tossed a coin and not played the game at all.

When is FIFA going to join the modern era and use technology to make the game fairer and also appease our suspicions of match fixing?

As far as refereeing goes,other sports such as League and Union make soccer look very amateurish.

Soccer is a beautiful game in the way it flows. But sh!t is it ever compromised by a few huge problems, which could so easily be fixed.

We were robbed. No two ways about it. That penalty decision was the absolute pits and strikes right at the core of football’s three worst problems –

1. a single bloody umpiring can and often does completely override everything else in a game.

2. a foul or a reputed foul close to goal is penalised by an almost certain goal, which more often than not decides the game.

3. the scoring is far too low, so that one goal can so often make the critical difference.

In major games let’s use technology to make sure that significant umpiring decisions are right. There is absolutely no reason why instant replays and remote umpires cannot be used in situations like last night’s game. The umpire stops the game due to a reputed foul and then a decision is made after viewing the replay, a la cricket. Why the f.ck not?? Decisions like this are so critical, why shouldn’t the game be stopped for a couple or even 10 minutes if need be for a carefully judged decision to be made?

The penalty spot should be moved back so that the chances of scoring a penalty goal match the significance of the ‘crime’. I reckon there should be about a 25% chance of scoring from the penalty spot.

Make the goal net bigger so that more goals are scored, so that the better team has a better chance of winning.

Is it any wonder that there is so much football-related strife when so very often fans feel cheated by bad decisions or games that are decided by one foul and one penalty, or a win that goes strongly against the trend of play. Beats me why the bloomin game remains so drug-like addictive across the world.

A multi generation Australian I was raised on AFL and as a boy joined the stupid chorus that decried the foriegn code. After switching to hockey at school I learned the value of the off-side rule a the basic strategy of the new code. Hocky and soccer are similar.

AFL is a pleasant game but it does not for me have the strategy of soccer. The soccer ball moves continuously and an enormous team co-ordination is required. For me AFL is boring by comparison. Of course with soccer being international world games are played at a much higher level of profficiency than Rules. Imagine a Rules team formed from the whole of Australia - what a standard it could achieve! Unfortunately it would have no one to play against.

Rules might be a good game and capable of being developed into a great game but no one else plays it. Regarding the soccer violence this is mainly from the UK or from international games. Since Rules is not international there is no reason for hoons to see it as a war alternative. Soccer will slowly takeover precisely because it is international.

Soccer is the worlds game, it follows the world in most of its aspects. Considering most of its players are wimps and have to fake 99% of penalties and injuries, plus the game is controlled by probably the most corrupt people in the world, big business, its no wonder it holds such sway.

When you see who got through qualifying and the second round and how they got there, soccer in Australia is just a two week wonder. Any fool can see its rigged towards the teams holding the power, anyone else is cheated out of the tournament.

The violence you see at its games all around the world, is because its so boring and slow, with little chance of a decent enjoyable result. To have games settled by goal shoot outs is ridiculous and shows what an inadequate game it is. If the referees at the world cup are the best in the game, you can see where the problem lays, simple game, simple minded referees, no intellect.

Still when you consider the large following, you can understand its drawing power. An inferior boring game designed for inferior boring spectators, whose only kicks in life come from abusing each other. True logic and sanity.

The reason rugby league is declining is the same reason, violent and boring. Aussie rules, rarely has spectator problems, whether your team wins or loses, your probable too emotionally drained to abuse anyone. A game that goes for 120 minutes flat out and includes all the skills of the human body, certainly give much more pleasure than one that never really gets anywhere but back an forth. No wonder the fans riot, their simple minds get bored to death and because their mentality is low, they can only express violently.

I pretty much agree Alchemist.

Now if we could just see fit to play Aussie rules with a round ball, a lot of the off-putting clumsiness and scrappiness of the game could be eliminated. Then if we made the goal much smaller and put a top bar on it, you might have a half-decent game.

As for soccer, we could implement some sort time limit to prevent long periods of ball-passing in centre field, whereby one team gets a free kick if the action is going nowhere. Not sure about the details, but it could no easily be done. The game often needs to be livened up a bit.

As for rugby, well its just thugby, and is a dead loss for me!! !! !! :>)

Football Fans of Australia!

Sick and tired of the prejudiced coverage the world game gets in Australia?

Then come and sign this petition!

http://www.petitiononline.com/fb2006/petition.html

Thanks