FIFA won't cast aside AFL: Brumby

Australia can host a world class soccer World Cup and a successful AFL season
simultaneously, Victorian Premier John Brumby says.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on Monday agreed to express an interest
in hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, and by May next year will make a "book bid",
detailing where games would be played.

But there are already concerns in Victoria that the event would interrupt the AFL
season.
After the COAG meeting, Mr Brumby told reporters that by working closely with the
AFL, he was confident Australia could have a successful football season and a world
class World Cup.
There were many matters - including "tension" over the overlap with the AFL season -
that needed to be discussed in coming months, he said.
"I don't think there's any circumstances in which you wouldn't have an AFL season,
but I think the AFL is absolutely right in raising any of the issues, the concerns,
about the competing and overlapping aspects of the World Cup and AFL," Mr Brumby
told reporters in Brisbane.
"We had an excellent discussion today.
"It's important to bear in mind the World Cup is the biggest event in the world, it
has around three times the number of viewers of an Olympic Games and so it's
something that would really put Australia on the map."
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally said should Australia win a World Cup, Sydney would
like to host the final.
South Australian Premier Mike Rann said his state was already investing in the event.
"It's a national push rather than a city-centred push," Mr Rann told reporters.
"South Australia and Adelaide is keen to be a host city for a World Cup games and
indeed we are submitting $450 million to upgrade Adelaide Oval, which will be great
for football ... great for international cricket but will also be FIFA-compliant and
capable of hosting World Cup games."
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh also backed the bid.
"The involvement of our nation in major global events is important to who we are,
and we want to be part of that effort," Ms Bligh said.