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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
White Elephant parade begins
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Absolutey criminal that FIFA demanded that a poor country like South Africa should spend that sort of money on hosting a World Cup.
What a corrupt, amoral organisation.
What a corrupt, amoral organisation.
Dimenhydrinate
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- Jun 18, 2009
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The South Africans are the idiots who bid for the tournament. What did they think would happen, "Ok, you've won the hosting rights. No stadia? Well, I guess we can play the games in some guy's backyard."?
Yes, you're right there as well.
It's a double whammy.
The FIFA exec, led by Blatter, seeking some form of self-aggrandisement, and then you have local politicians putting their own self-interest forward, while all along publicly declaring it's in the interests of the country.
This is the problem with these sorts of big events. Politicians out for their own self-glorification - all at the cost of the taxpayer, who will foot the interest bill for decades - and all along the taxpayer is being told that it's good for them!
Dimenhydrinate
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FIFA did nothing wrong. You wanna host the WC, you build the stadia, if you don't want to build the stadia, then don't bid, or if you've already won, hand the rights back to FIFA.
No, of course not, FIFA is completely blameless - they make a song and dance about bring the cup to Africa, while they systematically set about impoverishing a nation that is already very close to 3rd world standards.
finders
Norm Smith Medallist
Yep as we have said all along a massive waste of money on wonderfull stadia that will never be able to pay the interest bill and ordinary South Africans still living in abject poverty/ squalor with no sign of this changing for decades.
Even in Australia this overblown private circus would leave very few tangible benefits for the nation.
Julia spend the our money where its most needed on infrastructure to benefit all of us not just a few soccer zealots.
Even in Australia this overblown private circus would leave very few tangible benefits for the nation.
Julia spend the our money where its most needed on infrastructure to benefit all of us not just a few soccer zealots.
Papa Juggs
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The stadiums are there now.
They're hosting the world cup.
I hope the publicity fuels their tourism or whatever they were hoping to do.
I think we should build rectangular stadiums at our own pace and not just for a one off Fifa event.
When we are ready then we should bid.
They're hosting the world cup.
I hope the publicity fuels their tourism or whatever they were hoping to do.
I think we should build rectangular stadiums at our own pace and not just for a one off Fifa event.
When we are ready then we should bid.
Dimenhydrinate
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Again, the Africans were the idiots who bid for it. They know that their people live in poverty, but they bid anyway. If no African states had bid, FIFA would have been forced to take the cup to another region.
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http://www.theage.com.au/world/winne...0615-yd7h.html
This stadium you refer to , op , i think it is the one that will be used for 6 hours of playing time , all for $160 million .
Its crazy what FIFA and the South African Govt has done to its people .
I really hope our Govt and FFA dont fall for the very questionable actions of FIFA and all its representatives throughout the world.
I was rather amused that a FIFA spokesman came out last night and said " video technology " wont be introduced by FIFA...the spokesman was French and if the " video referral " had been in use France would NOT have been at this years 2010 world cup.
There are too many vested interests in FIFA for the game to be credible along with its officials.
They are a joke .
Is corruption involved in selecting who hosts the cup , referees and linesman decisions , the acting / diving players and above all that , officials in FIFA ?
FIFA are going to make approx $3 billion out of this cup and some of it goes to Blatters rellies and the Sth African Govt is left with a $45 billion debt ...for what ?
This stadium you refer to , op , i think it is the one that will be used for 6 hours of playing time , all for $160 million .
Its crazy what FIFA and the South African Govt has done to its people .
I really hope our Govt and FFA dont fall for the very questionable actions of FIFA and all its representatives throughout the world.
I was rather amused that a FIFA spokesman came out last night and said " video technology " wont be introduced by FIFA...the spokesman was French and if the " video referral " had been in use France would NOT have been at this years 2010 world cup.
There are too many vested interests in FIFA for the game to be credible along with its officials.
They are a joke .
Is corruption involved in selecting who hosts the cup , referees and linesman decisions , the acting / diving players and above all that , officials in FIFA ?
FIFA are going to make approx $3 billion out of this cup and some of it goes to Blatters rellies and the Sth African Govt is left with a $45 billion debt ...for what ?
You can't expect the FFA to operate to different standards - they are in bed with FIFA on this one!
They are very happy for the taxpayer to subsidise FIFA earning billions of dollars, just so as the FFA can get a few scraps off the table.
It's our very own Government that should be operationg to a much higher standard of behaviour and which should be held to account for already blowing $50 mill plus on something that is ultimately for personal aggrandisement.
scotto_01
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it was a good idea in theory to take the world cup to africa (the only fifa confederation besides oceania to host it) but in hidsight maybe they should of waited a decade or 2 to do so.
roll on brazil 2014, ingerlund 2018, australia 2022
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it was a good idea in theory to take the world cup to africa (the only fifa confederation besides oceania to host it) but in hidsight maybe they should of waited a decade or 2 to do so.
roll on brazil 2014, ingerlund 2018, australia 2022
Exactly right. One thing's for sure, if FIFA are the money chasing greedy evil corporation that BSE claims to be, they sure wouldn't have even thought about taking the Cup to Africa. One look at their financial statement shows a serious amount of money invested from the Goal program in Africa. FIFA could have made far more $$$$$ hosting the World Cup in Europe again, or any other first world country, where ticket prices are higher and there's more money to be spent. Think of it like bringing the Grand Final to a city the size of Canberra - would be great for the people of Canberra but the AFL's greed will ensure that it never happens. Kudos for FIFA bring the world's greatest event to the people of Africa, it's the least they deserve.
finders
Norm Smith Medallist
Absolute frogshit!
scotto_01
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good point about the tickets imo, for the 1st time there was a category 4 (only for sth african residents) which was cheaper than the rest, although based on some of the crowds looks like even those were too expensive.
as i said, good idea, perhaps wrong timing.
SAs GDP is half australias and the population double.
Not exactly poor but the inequities are bigger. Problem of poor people lies in areas outside the world cup.
I'm not saying FIFA isnt corrupt though
Not exactly poor but the inequities are bigger. Problem of poor people lies in areas outside the world cup.
I'm not saying FIFA isnt corrupt though
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I think to put the issues of South Africa on FIFA is incredibly unfair. There's no doubt that an event like the world cup could (and should) have been used as a way of decreasing the poverty level throughout Africa. No doubt that the world cup brings huge numbers of tourists and, more importantly for the poorer sections, huge numbers of jobs. However issues of low wages and kicking the poor off their land for the stadiums have been prevelent. Overall the people that have benefited most from this WC have been the rich in South Africa. It would've been great if FIFA had worked with the government to do more but that hasn't happened.
Undoubtedly the money could have been better spent, whether on the world cup but with different goals or on other projects instead. FIFA do seem keen to tell us how good this is for the country when, in reality the benefits at the moment are fairly superficial at least compared to the huge problems in the country. However it's what the South African government has done rather than FIFA that's a real disappointment.
As for comparisions with our own bid, at least we have far less poverty, far more prosperity and also have the sporting interest to use the stadiums that are built so I don't think you can really compare our potential world cup with that of SA. A closer comparison in terms of impact on the country as a whole would be to compare it to Germany, a richer, more stable country.
Undoubtedly the money could have been better spent, whether on the world cup but with different goals or on other projects instead. FIFA do seem keen to tell us how good this is for the country when, in reality the benefits at the moment are fairly superficial at least compared to the huge problems in the country. However it's what the South African government has done rather than FIFA that's a real disappointment.
As for comparisions with our own bid, at least we have far less poverty, far more prosperity and also have the sporting interest to use the stadiums that are built so I don't think you can really compare our potential world cup with that of SA. A closer comparison in terms of impact on the country as a whole would be to compare it to Germany, a richer, more stable country.
From what I understand, FIFA are interested in leaving a "legacy for football[soccer]" in the host country, not necessarily a legacy for the country as a whole. Thus, a magnificent new rectangular stadium is a magnificent legacy for soccer, even if it is a bit of a white elephant in general terms and the money could have been used to build schools or hospitals.
That's how I understand it, but then again I may be mistaken seeing as I'm an uneducated, unsophisticated AFL bogan.
But even in Germany, the economic impact is miniscule, and
1. they are in the heart of Europe surrounded by 300 million soccer fans; and
2. they have a thriving domesitc comp that will make full use of each and every upgrad/new stadium (highest average soccer crowds in the world, even higher than the AFL!!)
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Again you can't blame FIFA for wanting the highest level of their game played on the best grounds. You can't honestly expect them to accept a paddock with a couple of temporary grandstands for its showpiece event. Demanding quality stadiums from hosts is completely understandable and if you don't want the stadiums you shouldn't bid.
But even within the guidelines set out by FIFA there could've been oppourtunities for this to lead to prosperity for all south africa not just the rich parts. The cost of the stadiums isn't just going into thin air. At least part of the cost is being spent on jobs. This was a great oppourtunity to use these projects to give some of the poor the skills they need to firstly be of use in these projects and then more importantly have skills they can use throughout their lives. Instead of this, many of the tenders were given to overseas companies who came in and payed locals dirt cheap wages on only the very basic jobs. Where was the education and long term prosperity goals for South Africans?
Instead of spending a little more so that there would be a lasting impact, the government's actions meant that there isn't a legacy from the stadiums. This sort of thing could've dragged many people out of poverty, off the streets and into jobs but it didn't and they'll probably be suffering for a good time to come. But that's not FIFA's fault. That's SA's fault for taking the easy way out rather than thinking for the long term. Perhaps if they had thought for the long term, there'd be more blacks with the ability to afford to go to local soccer games and the stadiums wouldn't be such white elephants.
I'm not sure why people keep saying that you can't blame FIFA.
The FIFA exec look for some self-aggrandisement by hosting something big in Africa, Sth African politicians look for some self-aggrandisement by accommodating them - one feeds off the other - FIFA makes Sth Africa spend a small fortune, far, far more than the country can truly afford, FIFA pockets billions of dollars from TV rights, bugger all of that will make its way back to Sth AFrica.
And people keep asking: why blame FIFA?
We blame them because they're a pack of corrupt mongrels - how's that for a reason?
The FIFA exec look for some self-aggrandisement by hosting something big in Africa, Sth African politicians look for some self-aggrandisement by accommodating them - one feeds off the other - FIFA makes Sth Africa spend a small fortune, far, far more than the country can truly afford, FIFA pockets billions of dollars from TV rights, bugger all of that will make its way back to Sth AFrica.
And people keep asking: why blame FIFA?
We blame them because they're a pack of corrupt mongrels - how's that for a reason?
Some of those upgraded stadiums were 30,000 before. hinting that a t one time there was the demand. We are told soccer is not going well locally but whet is the cost of going toa game compared to wages.
Surely the fact they have large comfortable stadiums allows then to lower the price substantially and get bigger crowds ?
Surely the fact they have large comfortable stadiums allows then to lower the price substantially and get bigger crowds ?
Dimenhydrinate
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And all of their clubs actually pull their weight, unlike AFL clubs who see artificially high home attendances.
I think FIFA need to be more realistic about their expectations. Sure they want the tournament to be their showpiece, but they have set the standard so high that realistically it is only medium to large advanced indutrialised countries that can afford it. They need to be mindful of the burdens they are imposing on poorer nations.
As far as the economic stimulus of the WC and creating jobs etc, the same could have been done if they spent the money on building school, hospitals, community housing etc. All the same job opportunites and skills training would have been there, but at least they would have something productive to show for it. As it is this economic stimulus will come crashing down by the end of July, there is nothing ongoing. There will still be millions living in squalid poverty, a few of them got a free handout of school books or lapdesks from the visiting teams, but they still live in grinding crushing poverty. The SA government shouldn't have bid, and FIFA shouldn't have accepted it.
The capital cost of the stadiums is one thing, the ongoing upkeep costs are another thing all together. Money will need to be continually spent on these FIFA mausoleums. Although I suppose many of the poor & destitute may be happy if they are allowed to pitch tents & build shanty towns near some of those beautiful new & EMPTY stadiums. At least it it would give them something nice to look at whilst feeling hungry & being unemployed.
