IF I tell you soccer will never, ever be the No. 1 sport in Australia will you throw a flare at me?
OK, that’s a bit unfair, but my sentiment doesn’t change and trust me, I’ve tried everything to alter it.
I’ve been to games, I’ve watched it on TV, I’ve even played (although being 183cm and only slightly faster than a panda meant being stuck as goal keeper for a season, so granted, that probably wasn’t the best introduction).
Yes, soccer is the most popular team sport in the world.
Yes, it’s played in over 200 countries.
But show me someone who hasn’t found it dead boring at some stage and I’ll show you someone whose pants may actually catch fire.
There’s a reason soccer is the lowest-attended football code in this country.
For sure you can get a dreary AFL match but, at least you’re still guaranteed a score.
I understand suggesting the world game will never beat Aussie Rules in and around the suburbs of Australia is likely to upset some, but let’s look at the facts.
Soccer is game built on people who, if they want to be any good when they grow up, must set their sights on disappearing overseas to play in the top flight competitions.
Once anyone has the talent you would pay big money to see regularly, they ironically disappear to go and make even bigger money elsewhere.
Granted, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and co have shown enormous pride in wearing the green and gold, and Aloisiiiiiiiiiiii should be added to the Oxford Dictionary under “moments that stopped the nation” but, let’s face it, actually getting the best on our shores to play once in a World Cup moon is not enough.
When Adelaide United hosted La Liga side Malaga at Adelaide Oval last Friday, 23,254 turned up.
While many said it was a triumph let’s not forget, Liverpool loanee Luis Alberto and ex-Manchester City and Bayern Munich star Roque Santa Cruz were part of soccer’s debut at the Adelaide Oval on a Friday night.
I say only 23,254 turned up.
Last season Adelaide United averaged just 11,225 at their games which put them around the middle of the A-league pack.
Even taking away the novelty of the Power’s and Crows’ new playpen, there’s still vast discrepancies.
Participation rate is normally a soccer fan’s immediate foil to these arguments and granted more people are playing the game at a recreational level, however, in an excellent article by Bonita Mersiades for Sports Business Insider, she shows that all is not necessarily what it seems.
While yes more are still playing soccer than football, when comparing data between 2003 and 2009 it becomes clear the number of boys playing has resisted the national trend and actually decreased over time with the figures propped up by a 50.9 per cent increase of girls playing the sport.
Meanwhile, Aussie Rules participation increased by 21.9 per cent and has the highest participation rate in five of the eight states and territories, including South Australia.
But most of all, while soccer is a wonderful celebration of multiculturalism, it also applauds and perpetuates the antithesis of Australian sport’s culture.
The idea of taking a dive is just too unpalatable for many brought up on a sense of fair dinkum play, yet time and time again we see it used as a tactic by the very best.
As a parent protective of my kids’ bodies and brains I’m supposed to jump at the chance to get them chasing the round ball, but frankly I’d rather they engage in a bit more rough and tumble than take inspiration from those who manufacture such an embarrassing way to win.