Channel Seven: Still screwing Football

The Green and Gold Army have 11,000 members. I'm a member:) Their full voice is gathering to give it to Channel Seven. See the release below. Channel 7, it has to be said are hell bent on destroying Australian football fans and Olyroos supporters' vision of the Olyroos games.

Live football. No
Uninterrupted. No. Not even of Argentina Australia. They are a joke!
A football commentator? No...some guy from Union.

Give us a break. It's 2008. Reap what you sow! Send the football to SBS, or show the games live and in full. How hard is it?

Or do you really want to start your Olympic campaign on the backfoot. Can't wait for my bumper sticker, no-one screws football like Channel 7.

Read the release below.

FOOTBALL FANS OUTRAGED AS SEVEN TURNS THE SCREWS ON THE OLYROOS

The Green and Gold Army, Australia’s international football supporter’s network has been left dumbfounded by the Seven network’s announcement of a patch-work quilt coverage of Australia’s football (soccer) matches at the Beijing Games.

“From information received by the network itself, coverage of the Olyroos opening game against Serbia will be delayed and interrupted by an AOC announcement, which is disappointing to say the least,” says spokesman John McGuaren.

The news gets worse for fans for the all-important second game against reigning gold medallists Argentina who are bringing a full strength team to China.

“We anticipate it to be the country’s biggest competition game since the World Cup in Germany and Seven have said that they’re cutting away in the last 15 minutes to cover another event - it’s just a kick in the guts for fans,” explains McGauren.

News has spread fast amongst the‘football nation’ about the networks latest sortie against the game.

“There was a cheeky campaign running about a decade ago where Seven was refusing to cover the world game, despite having rights to do so. A bumper sticker campaign carried the message ‘Nobody screws soccer like Seven’, I reckon a few of the old relics might pop out of the archives over the next fortnight,” says McGauren.

“The Socceroos and the A-League have shown that there is a significant television market for the game in this country. Ratings for the new national league have been beyond the wildest dreams of Fox Sports, which makes this affront from Seven particularly puzzling.”

The Green and Gold Army, which boasts a membership of more 11,000 in more than 60 countries, will be working with the wider football community to affect a change in policy by the official Olympic network.

“One of two things should happen from their perspective,” explains McGauren.

“Either commit to covering the games in their entirety or switch them over to SBS, as has been done with other events at the games, including football.”

The ‘Army’s’ campaign to sway Seven’s view will unfold over the coming days.