Craig Foster calls out government for failing to invest in football in Australia

Former Socceroo Craig Foster has called out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on how Australia has fallen behind on the World Game.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster is calling for more federal government funding for football amid the Women’s World Cup.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to deliver more funding to support football in the country and foster another “10 more Sam Kerrs”.

As the Matildas gear up for their quarterfinal match against France, the NSW Australian of the Year wants to see the government roll out a national funding program, an initiative he said would not only support players, but bring the country together through the sport.

“Anthony Albanese has been at every game and he’s all over social media with the Matildas. He’s clearly loving it. And it’s authentic and that’s great. But by the same token, he needs to understand that the game is crying out for federal government support,” Foster told news.com.au at the unveiling of a Sam Kerr pitch in Auburn, Sydney, on Tuesday.

“We’ve got 211 countries playing (football), and all of our competitors, whether it’s female or male football, their programs, their government expenditure … is exponentially greater than Australia’s.

“So if we decide as a country that we want more of this, which we do, we need to invest in it.”

Australia is lighting up for @TheMatildas tonight 🇦🇺⚽ #TilitsDonepic.twitter.com/Dfo3SKxi0M

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 7, 2023

The government previously announced in the 2022 Federal Budget it would contribute $2.7 million over two years to encourage greater participation in football through the delivery of specific women and girls’ diversity and inclusion programs.

However, football overall, receives less funding than a number of other major sporting codes, and is yet to receive a home base in the country.

The 2021-2022 Australian Sports Commission Annual Report found football received just $7,903,750 in funding during the two-year period, coming in under cycling, hockey, athletics and basketball.

One change Foster wants to see is increased funding in grassroots initiatives, like the establishment of a new community football pitch in Auburn, created in partnership with EA SPORTS FC, Police Citizens Youth Clubs NSW (PCYC) and Matildas legend Sam Kerr.

“I would love to see local governments, I would love to see state governments, certainly the federal government all get involved. What we need is for developers to put a football pitch in (communities), and let’s get another 10 Sam Kerrs,” he said.

Foster said the pitch, which also features in the upcoming EA SPORTS FC 24, would provide a much-needed space for “Australia’s next generation” to play together.

“On this pitch, (children) will learn about what it means to be Australian, they create friendships, they break down barriers between communities,” Foster said.

“So, my call to Anthony Albanese is not to have a national funding program for football just because I want us to win the World Cups. It’s because I want us to be more Australian. That’s the opportunity here.”

The new Sam Kerr pitch at PCYC Auburn, Sydney. Picture: Supplied

The community pitch comes alongside a new 12-month girls’ grassroots program, which will see training camps take place across NSW and Sydney over the next 12 months, in partnership with the charity PCYC.

“It’s an honour to have a pitch inspired by and created in my name,” Sam Kerr said in a media statement.

“To be part of this wonderful initiative to help grow football in Australia as well as providing young girls further opportunities.”

Kerr will also feature on the Ultimate Edition cover of FC 24, which is being launched in September, alongside other football legends.

“Our vision for EA SPORTS FC is to live at the intersection of football, technology and community,” said James Salmon, senior director, brand at EA SPORTS FC.

“Sam Kerr is synonymous with inspiring the love of football, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with her to unveil this pitch and to continue providing greater access to sport for the community.”

Sam Kerr said it was an ‘honour’ to have a pitch named after her. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The grassroots program will kick off this month with free weekly training sessions run by coaches from Football NSW, in just one move that will help provide football access to vulnerable, at-risk and disadvantaged young people.

“Learning and playing the game on the Sam Kerr pitch will surely inspire someone to pursue professional football, I’ve got no doubt,” Simon Gerathy, PCYC NSW GM brand and philanthropy told news.com.au.

“There will be some girls there that will go ‘I want to play for Chelsea, I want to play for Real Madrid, I want to play for Western Sydney Wanderers’.”

Likewise, Matilda Emily Gielnik said grassroots initiatives were integral to supporting women’s football in Australia – something she said “everyone can be doing more of”.

“Young aspiring kids get to look up to the Matildas in the World Cup and say ‘that’s where I want to be’ and grassroot programs is where it all starts,” Gielnik told news.com.au.

“This pitch shows where women’s football has gone and Sam Kerr is a representation of that. And I think this is the start of where the growth of the game is going.”