AFL blocks Ian Collins World Cup soccer bid for Etihad Stadium

Austadiums • Wednesday 10th February 2010
Etihad Stadium in rectangular mode

THE AFL has scored again with Etihad Stadium chief Ian Collins all but closing the door on World Cup soccer being staged at the Docklands venue. 

 In the latest blow to soccer's bid to host the World Cup in Australia in 2018 or 2022, Collins said yesterday he would honour his stadium's 25-year contract to host AFL matches.

"It's pretty simple to us. Our major tenant is the AFL and they have pre-emptive rights on scheduling," Collins told the Herald Sun.

"And if the AFL decides that they want to schedule 100 footy matches here between February and September then they are entitled to do it.

"They have those rights. If it was in summer time it would be a different kettle of fish. But the real issue is the World Cup is going to be held during winter."

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has declared Etihad Stadium off limits for World Cup matches - but Collins, until now, has been reluctant to weigh into the cross-code feud.

"The other issue is that there are a lot of contractual arrangements afoot here, whether that be naming rights or the commercial business with car parking. You can't just close those businesses down or jettison somebody out of the area when they have strong contractual rights," Collins said.

"The FFA (Football Federation Australia) and FIFA (world soccer's governing body) might want some of these things, and be quite dogmatic about it, but in the end they might have to compromise their position to ensure that people don't breach agreements."

Collins scoffed at suggestions FFA could use federal legislation to seize temporary control of Etihad Stadium if it did not come willingly to the World Cup party.

"I didn't know that we were at war ... and that's the only time I see where governments can seize control of private property," he said.

"This is all private investors, who have put money into a venture to make it happen. Basically, they are entitled to their return on that investment and it would be pretty hard for the Government to seize something without some substantial compensation. I don't think it has been thought through."

FFA has named the stadium on a list of 12 venues it hopes to use for World Cup matches.

In December, Demetriou said the AFL season would be cancelled if Etihad Stadium and the MCG were out of action.

Under FIFA rules, venues must be vacant for a month before the World Cup, with rival events halted for the duration.tournament.

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The AFL has scored again with Etihad Stadium chief Ian Collins all but closing the door on World Cup soccer being staged at the Docklands venue.
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