A World Cup thrashing at the hands of France has sparked fierce debate about future vision and funding for Australian football, with top officials grilled on the issue in Doha — even by a legendary former Socceroo.
Australia were always expected to find it tough against the reigning champions and they are very much still alive at the World Cup with two games remaining. But the gulf in quality on show prompted questions from former Socceroos including Mark Bosnich and Craig Foster about where the sport was heading
“That’s the biggest question here. What is Australian football going to do in the future to see our players be like that (the French player) one day,” Bosnich said.
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“Five world cup appearances all well and good, but what? But what? One last 16 (appearance) in over 100 years. So what are you going to do about that? That’s the biggest question.”
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson and Sports Minister Anika Wells fronted the Australian media on Wednesday where they faced a barrage of questions on the issue.
It included a passionate direct plea from Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer – who is working in the media for Optus Sport – on the issue of the costs of playing football in Australia.
“I’m not actually asking this question on behalf of Optus Sport, I’m asking it on behalf of myself as a footballer who played for the national team and Harry (Kewell, also in Doha) can probably vouch for it as well,” the former goalkeeper said at the press conference.
“Growing up as a kid, you didn’t need money to play football, it was there, it was an opportunity to play. In Australia now the cost to play football for the average individual is astronomical.
“I know the government has increased the funding .. I agree it needs to be addressed, seriously addressed, because we need more kids playing football, and sport in general. We are that far behind other codes … that cost next to nothing. I hear it all the time, constant complaints about the cost.
“So to James as well, if there is extra funding, where is it going and will it be going towards cutting the cost for the average individual? And if not why isn’t it? Because it should be.”
Wells responded that it was a “great question” but stressed there was no “unlimited pot of money” for football and sport, but she, three months into her new role, was currently asking people “where do you want it spent?”
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“I don’t know what the answer is yet, but I do know that it’s a problem,” she said.
“But I think it goes back to that overall question of what do you want? Do you want us to discount those things (costs) as a government subsidy or do you want us to put (money) into the sports and let them work it out?”
Johnson said the issue of cost to players was a key focus for Football Australia and was also asked directly about the sport’s vision in response to the criticism from Bosnich and Foster.
He pointed to the ‘XI Principles’ plan outlined in 2020 but warned it was a long game.
“If you look at the underlying theme of the vision, we do put player development at the very heart of it,” he said, adding that investment in national youth teams was a key focus, along with the development of initiatives such as a transfer system and licensing rules that will make Australian clubs stronger.
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“…So there certainly is a vision but the reality when it comes to player development is that the decisions we’re taking today, we’re not going to see the benefits of this for probably a decade.”
On the issue of funding, Wells said a “watershed” moment was approaching around Australia’s upcoming hosting of major events including next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup – for which FA will receive $230m in state and government money for legacy projects – and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“We’re thinking this through and I want to do it well,” she said.
