Australia football team may have to pay a big price should they follow their cricket team and decide against visiting Bangladesh next month for World Cup qualifier, said international media and local football analysts. The Socceroos are due to play in Dhaka on November 17, but the Football Federation Australia on Thursday sought FIFA’s guidance as to whether this match could go ahead, given the security concern.
Britain’s The Daily Telegraph reported that the Australian football body must convince FIFA that the security situation in Bangladesh deteriorated to a level that the match cannot be held here.
If they are unable to prove the point, the Australian football team must be ready for a heavy price, warned the daily.
‘Unlike the Australian cricket team, whose sole penalty for withdrawal is ranking points, Australia would forfeit the game and could face further sanctions if FIFA were to order the game go ahead and Australia choose not to travel,’ said the newspaper.
‘It could open the way to further sanctions against FFA from FIFA, on top of forfeiting the game itself,’ said the Telegraph, adding that the only alternative for Australia is convincing FIFA to move the match to a neutral venue.
While holding matches in neutral venue is not very unusual, local football analysts said such a scenario is unlikely for Bangladesh.
Currently only four Asian countries – Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen – are playing their home World Cup qualifying matches in neutral venues because of violence in their own territory.
Myanmar are also playing their home matches at a neutral venue in Bangkok but that is because the country is suspended for crowd violence.
Palestine recently hosted the UAE in their own land, though FIFA has relocated the Palestinians’ October 13 World Cup qualifying match against Saudi Arabia after the Saudi team refused to travel to the West Bank.
The match was initially scheduled at a venue on the outskirts of Ramallah, which would require the Saudis to go through the West Bank’s Israeli-controlled borders.
Saudi Arabia is among a few dozen of Arab and Muslim countries that don’t recognise Israel, so FIFA gave them a special concession.
Anwarul Haq Helal, a former general secretary of Bangladesh Football Federation, said Australia is unlikely to get the same favour as the situation in Bangladesh cannot be compared with Palestine-Israel conflict.
‘It will be a surprising decision if FIFA accepts Australian request to relocate Bangladesh match,’ he told New Age. ‘If Australia places a request, FIFA representatives will visit Bangladesh to evaluate the security situation. I don’t think they will find anything scary.’
The official is optimistic about Bangladesh to be able to host the match as FIFA hardly entertains a request that it considers irrational.
In 2013, Ghana requested its match against Egypt to move to a neutral venue because of political unrest in the country. But FIFA turned down their request and Ghana had to travel to Egypt.
Helal said if Australia defies FIFA order, its consequence could be far reaching than it has been thought now.
‘If they don’t come here despite FIFA asking them to do so, the matter will be referred to disciplinary committee. In that case, they can impose a heavy fine on Australia and deduct its further points, which could cost the country a place in the World Cup,’ he said.
Australia are currently leading Group B with nine points from three matches with Jordan in the second position with seven points. But Kyrgyzstan remained hot on their heels with four points.
If Australia decides to forfeit Bangladesh match and lose further points Kyrgyz will have the chance to topple them.
Local football officials said Asia’s football politics also could compel Australia to come to Bangladesh.
FIFA election is due on February 26 and Bangladesh and other South Asian countries are expected to take a unified position there, which could be vital for any candidate.
Australia on the other hand is an unpopular member in Asian Football Confederation as many gulf nations want it to be out from the body. Considering the facts, local football officials said Australia is unlikely to get any undue favour from FIFA and could be compelled to visit Bangladesh or pay a price.
-With New Age input
