Explore Posterous

'Benefiting The Whole Football World' - East Against West, Frank Lowy and The FIFA World Cup

"We are able to show that bringing the game to Australia and having the Asian continent with us at the same time-zone will benefit not only Australia, not only Asia, but the whole football world"
Frank Lowy, Chief of Australia's FIFA World Cup Bid and Australia's Richest Man

Asia comprises the world's fastest growing economies, the fastest growing television and media audiences and the fastest growing consumer markets. Intuitively, Lowy's claim seems to be sensible. But how valid is this regional bias? The three points below try to open this up a bit.

1. The combined audiences for West and East are broadly similar

By looking at FIFA's published TV and Out Of Home (which includes pubs and other public viewing areas) cumulative viewing figures by region we can compare the 2002 World Cup held in Asia with the 2006 World Cup held in Europe.

In terms of the number of viewers, comparing Europe with Asia is hard to swing in Europe's favour. In 2002 there were 2.7 Asian viewers to every European viewer. In 2006 this figure was cut to 1.6 but still, this is a huge difference. However, this only takes into account numbers for Asia and Europe. 'East' and 'West' is much broader.

By grouping together figures for Europe with North America, South America and Central America (EurAm) we get a better idea of what Western audiences actually add up to. We can then compare this with an Eastern group comprised of the Asia and Oceana (APAC). When we look at East vs. West in this hollistic way we get a slightly more even result. In the 2002 World Cup, held in Asia, there were only 1.3 Eastern (APAC) viewers to Western (EurAm) viewers but in the 2006 World Cup there were 1.2 Western viewers to Eastern viewers - despite the fact that the Germany World Cup was broadcast in 11 fewer EurAm territories than the 2002 World Cup.

So there wasn't that big a difference after all.

The audiences are pretty much similar from East to West. The drop off in audience attributable to changes in time-zones is nearly identical with both regions losing roughly 7% of their audience when the games were shown at more unsociable hours. Let's not forget, though, that with China's population alone being double that of the whole of Europe, Asia's 7% certainly represents more people. This brings us on to our next point - although the audiences are roughly the same, and the drop off is the same, advertisers will look for efficiency over reach and this may present the West with another argument against the Lowry.

2.  Rights fees are based on efficiency, not just reach 

Lowry also spoke about the revenue that an Australasian World Cup would bring in. He didn't go into specifics in the article I read but someone told me he'd quoted a difference of +$1bn. That's a lot of money and I'm not sure where he gets it from. Despite offering huge reach, there's going to be an awful lot of wastage in a market where the audiences are almost inconceivably large. In EurAm, penetration is much higher with a greater proportion of the total populations watching or experiencing the tournament. I don't want to waste any money speaking to people who aren't in the mood to listen, especially if there's millions of them.

Also, because there aren't many national broadcasters in the regions, the scope for competition among those looking to secure broadcast rights is smaller. Coupled with the lack of efficiency, this makes for risky - and tricky - business for those formulating broadcast revenue prediction models. Although, broadcast revenue isn't the only source of income from the tournament.

3.  A successful event needs the stadia to be full

Although we hate to admit it, everyone secretly loves the English. English football fans, like many of our counterparts, bring with them a fantastic enthusiasm for the game that heralds from decades of disappointment and ecstasy from following the nation's team. World Cup tournaments need these fans. They need them to fill up the stadiums and prevent what happened at some of Beijing's Olympic events where organisers had to give tickets away to locals for free (retail price was very high - around £90 per ticket) in order to fill the seats. In Sydney's Olympic games, kids were actually transported to the venues by buses to fill the venues with the right kind of audience.

What's the lesson here? Big TV audiences don't necessarily equate to a success on a national level.

We have a little time to go before the decisions for 2018 and 2022 will be made (December 2010) but at the moment, it seems as though the argument isn't as black and white as we may have originally thought. Let's see what FIFA say.

You can read more about Lowry's argument here
Picture found here

Will it be the World Cup of the team, not the Superstar?

As the qualification process winds down and more and more countries learn their fate ahead of the World Cup draw in Durban on December 4^th – a true nightmare is potentially going to happen for FIFA.

We are not talking about riots, or issues with South Africa’s infrastructure – we are talking about the potential for the two best players on the planet not being present next summer. That very outcome is hanging over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Not only is this a massive issue for FIFA’s PR and Marketing team, but it is also a massive blow to all those who love the game.

Firstly, Ronaldo’s Portugal have struggled throughout their Qualification Group and look like sneaking into the Play-offs at the expense of Sweden. However, that will mean immense pressure and some very strong teams in the Play-offs - potentially the winker might not get the chance to play on the greatest stage of all when in the form of his life. He may be arrogant, he may fall to the ground easily but he is an amazing talent, and the most expensive footballer in history. Although Portugal have knocked out England in recent times, I would love to see Ronaldo lighting up the tournament, at least up until the Quarter Finals.

Secondly, the shambles that is the management style of Diego Maradona looks likely to condemn Argentina to miss their first FIFA World Cup in 39 years. Late, late, late in to Saturday night a last minute goal by the 57 year old striker Martin Palermo (okay, 35) meant Argentina scraped a victory against Peru (the same Peru team that had played eight games, lost them all, scored two goals and conceded 24). They now have to look to their final match away against Uruguay and hope results go their way to clinch the last Qualification spot or even the South American Play-Off place. Maradona has used a staggering 70-something players during Qualification and by no means is he left with an easy fixture as Uruguay have a phenomenal record at Montevideo.

He seems to make impulsive decisions before and during matches. If Messi ends up missing the 2010 FIFA World Cup, not only will Adidas be smarting (he is their lead global athlete) but the tournament will feel like something is missing – now imagine if both were to miss out.

What this could mean is a real shift in the perception of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Usually a tournament is talked about through the players. The Ronaldo World Cup of 2002, the Baggio World Cup of 1994, Pele 1958, Maradona 1986.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup could change that and move from superstar flair players, to organised and combative teams – working together towards the common goal. Victory.

 This will give the likes of Germany and excellent chance in South Africa, and also should see Brazil do well as Dunga has evolved a team of eleven isolated players in 2006 into a physical and powerful unit, with a hint of flair.

I can’t wait for next summer, but I just hope that come December 4^th Portugal and Argentina are in the hat and we avoid a FIFA World Cup being remembered as per Euro 2004 – the Greek Tragedy.

To herlige videotips for Fifa 10

Om du er en like stor fan av Fifa 10 som jeg forsøker å framstå som, så er kanskje denne tips-artikkelen gull verdt for deg. Ihvertfall om du ønsker å lære mer om spektakulære finter og muligheten til å låse opp disse.

Fifa 10 har tatt meg med storm, ikke uventet kanskje - jeg har tross alt ventet lenge på dette spillet. Men spillet er mye bedre enn jeg hadde forventet - vanligvis har oppdateringene til EA Sports vært marginale hvert år, både i Fifa og andre spill, men i Fifa 10 er både spillopplevelse, grafikk og følelsen av å spille fotball i virkeligheten helt ubeskrivelig god.

Av denne grunn har jeg tenkt å poste to meget hjelpsomme videoer som kan hjelpe deg å få en enda bedre opplevelse når du spiller årets sportsspill.

Lås opp din spillers dribleferdigheter i Virtual Pro

Kall meg gjerne dum, litt treig, eller rett og slett distre og uoppmerksom - jeg brukte nemlig en stund på å oppfatte hvordan jeg skulle få låst opp dribleferdighetene (skill moves) på min Virtual Pro-spiller i Fifa 10.

Jeg har hele tiden vært fullstendig klar over at man kan låse opp de enkleste fintene ved å trikse med ballen i den såkalte "Practice Arena" som dukker opp før hver eneste kamp man spiller. Problemet er at jeg ikke helt fant ut hvordan man utførte denne triksingen, jeg prøvde gang på gang å trykke på den angitte knappen ('RB' på XBOX 360) - uten resultat. Jeg antok til slutt at også dette måtte låses opp på en eller annen måte.

Først da jeg så videoen under skjønte jeg hva jeg hadde gjort feil - jeg hadde selvfølgelig glemt å holde inne finteknappen (left trigger) samtidig som jeg trykket på angitt trikseknapp - dumme meg! I videoen får du vite hvordan du låser opp de forskjellige dribleferdighetene i Fifa 10.

Avanserte og flotte finter forklart

Når man først har låst opp de forskjellige dribleferdighetsgradene kan man gå løs på mer avanserte og spektakulære finter, noe videoen under viser på en meget visuell og enkelt forklart måte.

Håper virkelig disse to videoene har vært til hjelp for andre Fifa 10-fans enn meg, om så ikke er tilfellet har jeg ihvertfall delt med dere hvor utrolig dum, treig, distre og uoppmerksom jeg kan være - lykke til!

Følg @macgeeky på Twitter for flere tips om teknologi og spill.

Emmanuel Adebayor: Togo 2010

via flickr.com

Experimental mosaic poster for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Studying the great African patterns tradition.

Didier Drogba: Côte d'Ivoire 2010

via flickr.com

Experimental mosaic poster for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Studying the great African patterns tradition.

FIFA 10 | How Big Can Football Get?

Thanks Emile : Now let's give Carlton a chance

Last night at about 8:07PM I was able to begin to wipe from my mind the memory of the last time I saw Croatia play at Wembley on that dark, wet and miserable night back in 2007 when England were eliminated from qualification for UEFA Euro 2008. As Frank Lampard stepped up to convert the penalty it felt like it was going to be a great night. The team playing well, keeping the ball, creating chances and scoring goals - but there was one element which I was getting a bit stuck on. Good old Emile Heskey.

Before the game I was fully bought in to starting Heskey over Defoe. Sure Defoe has been on fire for Spurs so far this season, but the England team look so much more balanced and get the best from Rooney and Gerrard when there is a big guy who can hold the ball up. However, the two chances that Heskey missed in the first half are ones that I am confident Harry Redknapp's wife could of scored - and if we have designs on winning the FIFA World Cup then we need two strikers who can offer a goal threat.

He is great at doing his job, has pretty good movement and makes Rooney play well - but I think that now we have the luxury of secured qualification Fabio Capello should turn to Carlton Cole. We know Heskey can do the job well. However, could Cole offer the complete package that as well as the hard graft and link play delivers an eye for goal?

It stunned me to find this from the Daily Mail;

Cole is easily the best option to replace Heskey.

I believe that he should start, and finish, both of the remaining competitive FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifiers. There are 9 months for the team to be developed and refined and you could argue that with a fully fit crop of players only the right midfield and partner for Rooney are the ones that do not pick themselves (assuming David James is fit and playing well). Lennon deserves a run in the team - and he should get that after his MoM last night - but if we do not give Carlton Cole the minutes on the pitch we will never know and then what happens if Heskey gets injured in the first match?

Come on Carlton, don't let me down

The fucking national football teams

No ha passat ni una jornada de lliga i ja hi tornem a ser amb les patxangues classificatòries per a la gran patxanga final al Mundial de Sud-àfrica 2010

Malgrat hi hagi cada cop més consciència d’estar davant d’un càncer que pot acabar amb el futbol professional, es troben a faltar dirigents ( sobretot dels equips grans) que no es limitin a criticar amb la boca petita la irracional situació actual  i afrontin d’una puta vegada com parar els peus a aquesta mena de sectes estrafolàries i destructives anomenades FIFA i UEFA. Sectes que a la vegada gaudeixen de la col·laboració inestimable d’un altre tipus de sectes conegudes amb el nom de Federacions.

Sovint surten propostes de com s’hauria d’organitzar el futbol professional posant com exemples les grans lligues professional americanes com ara les del bàsquet, futbol americà, beisbol, etc. També surten mil i un arguments que justificarien la eradicació definitiva de les anomenades seleccions nacionals, però arguments per eradicar i propostes per reorganitzar n’hi ha per donar i per vendre. No és l’objectiu d’aquest post parlar del tema. Aquest post només pretén cridar l’atenció i deixar sobre la taula un altre argument que per sí mateix ja hauria de ser suficient com per denunciar aquesta absurda deriva en que s’ha convertit les anomenades seleccions nacionals. Aquí el teniu:

Fullejant la Vanguardia d’ahir (05-09-2009) i més concretament a la pàgina 50, em trobo amb la relació de partits classificatoris pel mundial d’aquest cap de setmana. Si observem la zona europea veurem que hi ha 9 grups i  un total de 21 partits a disputar que equivalen a 42 seleccions nacionals. De les 42 seleccions nacionals implicades, gairebé la meitat no existien l’any 1991 ja que no eren estats independents. No arriben doncs ni als vint anys d’antiguitat.

Es tracta de les següents seleccions:

Armènia

Bòsnia

Estònia

Moldàvia

Letònia

Eslovàquia

República Txeca

Azerbaidjan

Rússia

Ucraïna

Croàcia

Bielorússia

Montenegro

Geòrgia

Macedònia

Illes Fèroe (regió autònoma de Dinamarca)

També hi trobem les seleccions d’Irlanda del Nord i d’Escòcia, que tot i tenir selecció pròpia, són nacions que pertanyen a la Gran Bretanya i que vindrien a ser l’excepció que confirma la regla pel que fa les normes FIFA –no sé si escrites o no- de que només tenen selecció les nacions amb estat propi. Veient aquesta llarga llista de nous països ja s’intueix que ens trobem davant d’un negoci d’escandaloses proporcions on la qüestió futbolística només en seria la coartada.

A la velocitat que canvien les fronteres europees i amb la rapidesa que van apareixent nous països, o algú agafa el toro per les banyes o tenim els putes national football teams pels segles del segles, amén.

Untitled

1st half, Ghana 1: Sudan:0 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for South Africa 2010 (~,-) so far so good!

Why has Platini got it in for the English Premier League?

We all know that there is previous between England and France. It started a long time ago and still seems to rumble on. With Michel Platini's surge to power at UEFA it seems as though each season there is something new to talk about that demonstrates his passion against the success of the Barclays Premier League.

Right now it is the amazing decision against Chelsea that will stop them buying any new players till 2011. The punishment was dealt out by FIFA after the club was found guilty of getting a young winger, Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

Since achieving UEFA Presidency in 2007 Platini has tried to launch, and shared an official opinion on a number of new ideas and innovations to the game. However, to me it seems that often these are born out of Platini trying to fight the dominance of the English game in Europe.

The vast TV Rights money, huge transfer fees, foreign ownership and clubs mounting debts has created an aura of negativity across Europe against the Barclays Premier League, and the Chelsea ruling seems to be the latest battle. I am sure that this kind of thing has gone on in football for decades and all the top teams from all the top leagues must be guilty of it. I am not saying that I agree with it, and think it is very harsh to punish the young player as well as the club, it is just that it always seems that English teams suffer most.

I grew up watching Italian, Spanish and English football and Eduardo's 8.0 against Celtic looked like a cruncher compared to other examples I have seen throughout European football. Yet it is Arsenal who suffer the ban. It would not surprise me if the paper talk is proved right and Manchester United are the next team to suffer the same kind of ruling as Chelsea, then probably Manchester City. With these two incidents the authorities have set the precedent, and they now have to enforce them each time - I can't wait to see what happens the next time there is a dodgy penalty award against Arsenal.

Platini has recently backed the 6+5 idea (six home international players and five foreign players) to be introduced in top flight team in Europe. Platini has also backed caps on wages and transfer spending - and all foreign ownership of clubs. He has stated that he wants to cut the number of Italian, Spanish and English teams in the UEFA Champions League to a maximum of three instead of four and has also talked about banning clubs from European competition based on the debts of the clubs. All are valid ideas, but it seems that English clubs will get hit the hardest.

Too much money, not enough home-grown talent, clubs built on debt and foreign ownership, money taking over the game, players running clubs. These are Platini's view of the English game and he seems set to try and disrupt it.

I love the Barclay's Premier League, and it is so great because of the big business it has become and I have enjoyed English clubs having success in Europe (and the benefits this seems to be having on the national side) and hope that an English team can lift the UEFA Champions League trophy in Madrid in May and see Platini grit his teeth and applaud.

Sod it, I even wouldn't mind if it's Chelsea.