User:Skyring/OSNF

"Old soccer, new football" is the phrase used to describe the successful rebranding of the sport of soccer in Australia.

Background
Soccer is currently played by more Australians than any other team sport, with 683 300 participants, well in excess of other codes of football such as Australian Rules (241 500) and Rugby League (104 100). However, for most of the 20th Century, the game was seen as a minority sport, played by "Sheilas, Wogs, and Poofters" (the memorable title of Johnny Warren's history of soccer in Australia.

The sport's organising body was variously known as the Commonwealth Football Association, Australian Soccer Football Association, Australian Soccer Federation, and Soccer Australia.

In 2003, following Australia's failure to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, allegations of fraud and mismanagement were leveled at Soccer Australia by elements within the Australian Press including the ABC.

Work in Progress
I'll add in the list of sources, write some background, and describe the public debate, such as it is. Any help or advice gratefully received.