Venues NSW left to clean up FIFA’s big mess at Allianz Stadium, SCG

Venues NSW has been left to pick up the bill for cleaning the name plaques of Australia’s sporting heroes after red faced FIFA officials ordered their coverings be removed.

Statues of rugby great Ken Catchpole, left, and Olympic sprinters Betty Cuthbert and Marlene Mathews, right, covered up on FIFA's orders. Pictures: Jeremy Piper

Venues NSW has been left to pick up the bill for cleaning the name plaques of Australia’s sporting heroes after red faced FIFA football officials ordered their coverings be removed.

FIFA officials ordered the name plaques at the foot of bronze statues of seven Aussie sporting icons outside Allianz Stadium at Moore Park be covered as part of its policy to remove any unofficial branding ahead of the Women’s World Cup.

The cover up brought a storm of protest from the families of sporting legends including soccer ace Johnny Warren.

Sprinter Marlene Mathews was furious that FIFA had taped over her name. “We are not brands, we are people. We are not selling anything or interfering with their corporate messaging,” she said.

FIFA officials, straight off the plane from Zurich for the Women’s World Cup, were forced into a hasty backflip and ordered the coverings be removed.

The ruined Betty Cuthbert and Marlene Matthew plaque. Picture: Julian Andrews

Nasty splodges of glue were left on the bronze plaques of Olympic sprinters Marlene Mathews and Betty Cuthbert, footy legends Dally Messenger and Reg Gasnier, rugby greats Trevor Allan and Ken Catchpole and Captain Socceroo Johnny Warren.

FIFA has issued Venues NSW with a 39 page document explaining how to deliver a “clean site” including removing or covering all branding right down to taping over the brand names on televisions and fridges.

Ironically its “clean site” policy has had exactly the opposite effect on the bronze plaques bearing the names of Australia’s sporting heroes.

FIFA ordered the covering the plaques at Moore Park. Picture: Julian Andrews

A Venues NSW spokesman: “Our staff have been out attempting to remove the adhesive. We are confident that we will be able to restore the plaques to their former glory.”

A FIFA spokesman confirmed the glue would be removed and doubled down on his claim that Venues NSW should not have covered the plaques in the first place. A claim Venues NSW strenuously denies.

Meanwhile FIFA’s quest for a clean site free from rival branding has also meant the bronze Sydney Football Stadium plaque unveiled at the opening by then premier Dominic Perrottet has also been covered over.

FIFA’s botched cover up leaves stains on legends’ plaques

Red-faced FIFA has been forced into an embarrassing climb down after furious complaints over the covering of plaques celebrating some of Australia’s greatest sporting legends.

FIFA officials prompted outrage after ordering the plaques outside Allianz Stadium at Moore Park be taped over as part of its “clean stadium” policy to ensure sponsor brand names are the only visible writing.

Dumbfounded family members of sporting greats including soccer ace Johnny Warren and Olympic sprinter Marlene Mathews reacted furiously to the blacking out of the nation’s sporting history ahead of the Women’s World Cup.

Soccer legend Johnny Warren’s daughter Shannon Warren said she was completely “dumbfounded” by the covering up of the plaque at the foot of her father’s statue.

Johnny Warren’s plaque covered up. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Trevor Allan. not that you’d know it. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“I just cannot understand the reasoning behind it,” she said. “Why would you try and cover up a sporting great in the country where the Women’s World Cup is being held?

“Frankly, this is beyond stupid but it is not the first thing that FIFA has done that is really dumb.”

The Allianz Stadium sign gets the cover-up treatment. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Plaques at the foot of seven brass statues surrounding Allianz Stadium at Moore Park were covered with neatly taped squares.

They included Olympic sprinters Marlene Mathews and Betty Cuthbert, rugby greats Dally Messenger, Trevor Allan and Ken Catchpole, NRL immortal Reg Gasnier and Captain Socceroo Johnny Warren.

BACKDOWN AND A BUCK-PASS

FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Picture: AFP

Hours after details of the cover-up were revealed by The Daily Telegraph red faced FIFA officials straight off the plane from Zurich ordered the coverings to be removed, leaving glue damage on the plaques.

Possibly because of issues with the glue, the name plates of rugby league legends Reg Gasnier and Dally Messenger remain covered.

FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman, declined to comment on the own goal while the FIFA spokesman tried to place the blame for the decision squarely on staff at Venues NSW.

The ruined Betty Cuthbert and Marlene Matthew plaque. Picture: Julian Andrews

A FIFA spokesman said branding, including re-calling the stadium Sydney Football Stadium was part of its “clean site concept”, but that covering the plaques should not have happened.

“FIFA has today reconfirmed with all venues that the names on any statues or plaques at FIFA Women’s World Cup sites should not be covered,” he said.

However a spokesman for Venues NSW made it clear that FIFA had been warned against covering the plaques, but had insisted on going ahead.

“The plaques were covered at the direction of FIFA,” The Venues NSW spokesman said: “FIFA were advised against covering the names and it is pleasing they have changed their position.”

NSW Sport Minister Steve Kamper had earlier urged FIFA to remove the covers on the plaques.

“I would strongly urge FIFA to reconsider their decision. These athletes represent our history not commercial interests,” he said.

‘RIDICULOUS’

Earlier, Jamie Warren, Johnny Warren’s nephew, said the sporting greats were not rival sponsors and the decision to cover their names was “very disappointing”.

“It is ridiculous. They are not covering the names of sponsors but of sporting greats.

“By the same token would they cover up the plaques of Pele in Brazil or Bobby Charlton in London?” he asked.

“It is disrespectful to the host nation and its supporters who are coming to watch the games.”

Sprinter Marlene Mathews grand daughter-in-law Caroline Willard, who performed at Betty Cuthbert’s State Memorial Service, said the move robbed young women attending the FIFA Women’s World Cup of inspirational role models.

“This is such a shame,” Ms Willard said. “The history of those athletes should be allowed to shine.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup will showcasing women in sport to thousands of young girls who are looking for role models to look up to,” she said.

“They will be in the stadium and walking past the statues of these amazing Australian female athletes and not be able to read who they are or their achievements. It is ridiculous.”

‘LAW UNTO ITSELF’

Former Socceroo Robbie Slater said FIFA had gone too far in “taking over” an Australian venue.

“It is what FIFA does, it is a law unto itself,” Slater said. “I think it is a disgrace that they would cover up the names and achievements of some of our greatest ever sports men and women.

“Soccer is supposed to be an inclusive sport and the Women’s World Cup is showcasing the very best yet FIFA’s own efforts seem to be sending out a very different message,” he said.