http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/foo ... 0c3b3df3f6SA Tourism Minister Leon Bignell denies Government hadn’t lobbied hard for Socceroos-Iraq game
June 11, 2016 10:56pm
Miles Kemp and Billy RuleEXCLUSIVESunday Mail (SA)
ADELAIDE Oval has been snubbed in favour of Perth for a World Cup Socceroos qualifier, with the state of the oval’s surface and a suggestion of weak bidding by the State Government blamed.
Despite having at least 30,000 fewer seats than Adelaide Oval, Perth’s NIB Stadium was selected for the game against Iraq on Thursday, September 1.
It can seat just 20,500, whereas Adelaide Oval can pack in 53,000 spectators.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, who criticised the Adelaide Oval surface after the Tajikistan World Cup qualifier in March, praised the Perth stadium.
“Perth ticks all the boxes for the Socceroos for what is a very important match in our World Cup qualification,” he said. “The facilities we were afforded last time we were in Perth were first class and the surface will allow us to play our style of football with no limitations.
“We played Bangladesh at the identical time last year and the weather conditions and pitch quality were ideal, so it makes perfect sense from a football perspective to play Iraq in Perth.”
Insiders said Premier Colin Barnett was integral in snaring the Iraq match, as the SA Government also wanted hosting rights.
But when South Australia took an interest in bidding for the Japan game on October 11 instead, WA swooped. As SA wavered, Mr Barnett reaffirmed WA’s commitment and the deal was done.
But SA Tourism Minister Leon Bignell denied the State Government had not lobbied hard for the Iraq game.
“They just want to share the games around a little bit, and there is a whole series of games,” he said.
The Socceroos will play Iraq at Perth’s much smaller NIB Stadium.
“We are really keen on the farewell game just before the Socceroos go away next year to the World Cup.
“You also have to make sure you are not paying silly money for games that may not bring in as many fans as other games.”
It is believed securing the match cost about $500,000 in cash and contra, such as marketing, signage and advertising. As well as attracting interstate tourism, the international TV coverage is expected to reach into the tens of millions throughout Asia and the Middle East.
Mr Bignell said there was nothing wrong with the surface of Adelaide Oval, which had been temporarily affected by hot and dry weather just before the Tajikistan game.
“The dry was followed by humidity that infected it with fungus, so while it did not look that great because there were some marks on it, the playing surface was fine,” he said. “We talked to some of the players and it ran smoothly.”
The Perth fixture is the first game in the final round of Asian Football Confederation qualifiers. Australia is in Group B and will play 10 home-and-away matches against Iraq, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, starting with the Iraq game on September 1. The top two teams qualify for Russia 2018.
The last time the two countries clashed was in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup when Australia scrambled to a 1-0 victory in front of 80,523 fans in Sydney.
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More bad news for SA soccer
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More bad news for SA soccer
- Stitch This
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Re: More bad news for SA soccer
I couldn't sleep after I read this.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
Time for some righteous indignation
Re: More bad news for SA soccer
I don't believe that will work.ozzie owl wrote:80,000 at Gillman.Aikhme wrote:Just goes to show we need another HAL team and a new stadium.
I'm in favour of CBD as a rule or the Santos site. Somewhere close to public transport and central with both teams as remnants and even the NRL.
Nothing big. Let's say 22 to 25k max.
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Re: More bad news for SA soccer
It's got to be Gillman for all these disenfranchised soccer supporters.ozzie owl wrote:80,000 at Gillman.Aikhme wrote:Just goes to show we need another HAL team and a new stadium.
JD is a prophet for these guys.
It's all in the Delivery!
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Re: More bad news for SA soccer
Aikhme wrote:Just goes to show we need another HAL team and a new stadium.
We got Ova' Here?? #ACCUPAHATERS!
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Re: More bad news for SA soccer
Apparently the new Gillman Stadium will be the major promise by Bill Shorten and the ALP for the next Federal election.Brian the Postman wrote:It's got to be Gillman for all these disenfranchised soccer supporters.ozzie owl wrote:80,000 at Gillman.Aikhme wrote:Just goes to show we need another HAL team and a new stadium.
JD is a prophet for these guys.