Time Football Australia switched on after Socceroos ‘disgrace’

Network 10 just does whatever it pleases with the Socceroos and is allowed to get away with it — but it’s time for Football Australia to take a stand, ROBBIE SLATER writes.

The Socceroos were shunted to Paramount+ for their World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh. Picture: Getty Images

Network 10’s poor treatment of the Socceroos is further proof that its only motivation in signing a new deal with Football Australia is to cash-in on the popularity of the Matildas.

And the sad thing is that FA seems set to reward Network 10 by staying with them despite the shabby way they treat the Socceroos, as well as the A-League men’s and women’s competitions.

It was a disgrace that the only way you could watch the Socceroos match against Bangladesh on Thursday night was on Paramount +, 10’s streaming service. I had calls from people who wanted to watch the game but couldn’t. The game should have been on 10’s main channel, or at the very least on 10 Bold or 10 Peach.

However, with the Matildas it’s a completely different story. They get the royal treatment from 10 even for friendly games as we saw with the two-match series against China. The Socceroos weren’t playing a friendly against Bangladesh, it was a World Cup qualifier, a game that actually meant something.

The Socceroos were shunted to Paramount+ for their World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh. Picture: Getty Images

Of course 10 is going to show the Socceroos’ game against Palestine on Tuesday night in Perth on its main channel, only because the match doesn’t kick off until after 10pm (AEST).

Network 10 just does whatever it pleases with the Socceroos and is allowed to get away with it.

The network does the same with A-League games, and you can blame that on the previous APL bosses who agreed to a ridiculous contract that gave 10 the option of paying less it certain KPIs weren’t met, which they haven’t been.

From that, the clubs have suffered, with their distribution from the TV money for next season rumoured to be no more than $500,000 each.

FA must do what’s right for the game in Australia as the guardians of the sport in this country. But by allowing Network 10 to continue to treat the Australian football community with contempt, FA isn’t doing what’s right for the sport.

The Matildas get the royal treatment from Channel 10. Picture: Getty Images

While FA might not get as much money for selling the Socceroos and Matildas broadcast rights to another network, in the long-term football will be better off in Australia.

The problem is the FA can’t see that at the moment, and is seemingly happy to accept Network 10’s ugly treatment of the Socceroos and our domestic competitions so long as the price is right.

Originally published as Time Football Australia switched on after Socceroos ‘disgrace’