Heather's view on the Matildas cancellation

Heather Reid sent this report through on the Matildas cancelled game. An interesting view, I'm sure you'll agree.

Heather writes:

Wednesday = With less than 2 hours until kick off, FIFA declared the Australia v Canada game is postponed until tomorrow evening. Check the FIFA and AP websites for the 'official story',

The unofficial story is that our team officials actually asked for the game to be played at the same time as the Norway v Ghana game - ie. the one that is now scheduled for Shanghai tomorrow evening.



The other more pressing suggestion is that the Chinese FA has been 'negotiating' with FIFA since yesterday to have their game v New Zealand which is also scheduled for tonight, deferred until tomorrow. China must beat NZ and by a number of goals if it's going to advance to the quarters. The other game in their group involves Brazil v Denmark which FIFA had already said would be deferred til tomorrow.

Brazil is the only team to have two wins (6 points) and can afford not to win against Denmark. The Danes, however, sit on three points, along with China and therefore also need a big win (anticipating China smashes the Kiwis).

So politics and negotiation rule here in China, while around 50-60 Australian
family members and other supporters are going to miss out on watching their daughters and friends play tonight in this crucial match. Most of us are heading home tomorrow and despite hours of wrangling with Qantas and travel agents, their arrangements just can't be changed.

Many parents made the decision yesterday to stay in China regardless of tonight's result, but the latest news in the final hour before play has shattered them. I realise that spectators and new fans of the Matildas in Australia will be disappointed too and that this impacts on sponsors and broadcasting networks but also the tens of thousands of spectators who were making their way to the stadium in Chengdu and the hundreds of volunteers, caterers and security who are at the stadium now packing up for the night.

The result of the Australia v Canada game shouldn't have any impact on the other games - especially those Group D matches. At 3.30 we were all dressed ready to go to the stadium 'With the SMS news from the players about the FIFA decision, I headed to the team's hotel with a bunch of very angry and upset parents. The team manager, Jo Sanders confirmed the decision and even Ben Buckley, CEO of FFA said it was "most unusual" decision.

Now I think I'll go and have a beer or two or more... In terms of seeing the game, I'll be like like others like Andy Munoz and we'll miss the game completely because we'll be on a plane flying home. Catch up with you at the JL gala day on Saturday or our PL grand finals on Sunday at McKellar B

In closing, whilst the FIFA media statement may say the postponements are based on the "latest weather reports about the evolution of typhoon Wipha", I think you should read more into the final statement that says "the new match schedule also complies with the requests of the participating teams" - and that includes Australia and CAnada. Ah ya gotta luck politics in football especially when it's framed on the basis of maintaining a level playing field.