Football Australia says “no snub”…but watch this space
FIFA’s plans to display the soccer World Cup trophy on its world-wide journey to South Africa next year do not include Australia…for the moment.
Frank Lowy
Media reports state that Frank Lowy and Football Federation Australia are being snubbed and that the omission of Australia, which has already qualified for the 2010 tournament in South Africa, is a portent for the failure of the FFA bids to bring the world’s major sports event to Australian in 2018 or 2022.
“Not so” a spokesperson for FFA told J-Wire. “We were informed well in advance by FIFA that the trophy would not visit Australia next year. There are a total of 208 member nations in FIFA whilst the United Nations numbers only 192. FIFA brought it to Australia in 2006 and this time it will visit other countries which will never have the opportunity to host the tournament such as New Caledonia and Viet Nam.”
But FFA chairman Frank Lowy has other plans. He told J-Wire: “Expect to see the trophy in Australia”.
The World Cup is currently scheduled to visit a total of 92 countries on its way to South Africa where the first match will kick off on June 11.
