Australia v Venezuela [R]

I'm a venezuelan that lives in the US and I was wondering what channel in Australia is going to show the game Venezuela-Australia.
There's a webpage that has TV channels from all the countries and I wanted to see if I could watch the game.

 

Australians Contact FIFA Over No-Show

Australian officials are ready to call on FIFA to suspend Leeds United striker Mark Viduka from a club match if his absence from Australia's friendly against Venezuela is not properly explained.

The Australian Soccer Association (ASA) had turned down a written request from relegation-threatened Leeds for the player to be withdrawn from the squad for Wednesday's friendly in Caracas.

Leeds want Viduka to be ready for their match against Manchester United on Saturday but the club refused to make any comment on the player's availability for the Australian squad.

A FIFA spokesman confirmed on Tuesday they had been contacted by the ASA on the issue.

Earlier, Australian coach Frank Farina said that Viduka had not flown to Caracas. Asked to clarify whether Viduka was injured or simply not available, he said: "I'm not sure what transpired today in terms of injury. At this stage, we are not expecting him to arrive."

Harry Kewell of Liverpool has also pulled out of the match citing an ankle injury. The ASA said it was writing to a number of clubs to get more medical information on squad members who did not travel to Venezuela.

"Once received, the ASA will then consider using FIFA regulations to enforce its player selection policy," the ASA said in a statement.

Farina added in a teleconference from Caracas on Tuesday: "Discussions have continued overnight with Mark Viduka and Leeds United, with ASA expected to finalise this issue within 48 hours.

"It's always frustrating if you lose players for whatever reason, whether it's injury or in this case non-availability."

Fifa Rules

According to Article 40 of the FIFA regulations for the status and transfer of players, a player summoned for a national side cannot play for his club during the period when he was or should have been released.

The restriction on playing for the club could be extended for five days in the event that the player did not comply with the summons. If a club refused or neglected to release a player, FIFA could apply a fine, caution, censure or suspension to the club involved.

In January, Viduka was given leave by Leeds to return to visit his ill father in Australia.

Farina confirmed that Craig Moore of Rangers would captain the side on Wednesday in the absence of Kewell and national captain Paul Okon, who was not included in the squad.

"He's captain of Glasgow Rangers at the moment, which is one of the biggest clubs in Europe, so he was a pretty easy choice for me," said Farina.

Crowdie

 

I think that's a tragic that big Dukes is considering a retirement from the international level. I mean why is ASA scheduling a match that is played outside from europe right at this moment in time?

I think ASA should use common sense next time when they try to arrange all their games. I mean they should play friendly games in Europe when the fixtures are in the middle of the European season. I think they should arrange all their overseas friendly games (like in Aus and other continents) until at the end of the european season which is around May to July.

 

Glorious_Fan

Depends if we have a team.

Personally, I'd get any kid off the street to play, as they'd show more ticker than some of the stars who were injured.

Jeez what a bunch of cowards.

BTW the emergency subs did a great job, in the circumstances. Perhaps the ASA & Frank Farina should stick with them for the South Africa game next month.

Andy T.

 

I agree. It wasn't the best timing & the travel involved mad it tougher. I'm curious what the scoop is on Chipperfield & what will happen with him.


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/71865/1/.html

 

And the players are upset over the whole situation.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8731553-23209,00.html

Also, soccernet.com is reporting that Viduka will *not* retire.

 

Venezuelan fans think that Australia played too defensively for a friendly game, specially since Venezuela had 10 men on the field for most of the 2nd half.

What do you think?

Can you all give me your true opinion about the Venezuelan soccer team and the best players. I watched the game through the internet and it was very difficult to make sense of the game.
I've been a fan of the venezuelan team since I was a little kid (we sucked really bad).

 

DanRod78

Aussie here.

I agree with you that the AUS coach (Frank Farina) should have tried to have the team attack more, especially in that last 20 minutes. With 10 men to play against for 20 minutes and having two relatively fresh players (including our U23 wiz Nick Carle) he had a perfect opportunity to go for the jugular. Opportunity lost !

Instead AUS did exactly what they do every time they play in South America and that's let their opposition score in that last 15-20 minute period.

Must say that Juan Arago's 92nd minute volley was a good one. The AUS right back didn't move across & cover and it was good-night to an AUS win.

The pitch was very bumpy and caused a lot of uneven bounce. Is that the top stadium there ? If so, then it needs to be looked at.

Cheers.

Andy T.

 

White Laser Blues,

A counter view which I've posted elsewhere.

(1) This was a FIFA sanctioned international time-slot;
(2) Australia plays very few games (3 last year, 5 the previous year) of any variety, so all these "meaningless friendlies" are no such thing, unless of-course you are English, play loads of international games and have SGE as your coach;
(3) Australia will have to play the 5th place South American team for the next WC, should they get that far. Currently, Venezuela is the 5th placed team in South America;
(4) When can AUS have its internationals back to play, when the WCQ's are upon us??? In the Northern summer when we can't get any international games??? When some inept club manager deems it ok???
(5) Before the last WCQ campaign, AUS had 3 friendlies in SA with 5 of their main players (guess who!) also not turning up. When the last leg was played in URUGUAY the team had not enough experience of the SA conditions and was absolutely slaughtered in the return leg.
(6) Yes AUS is to play as many games in England as possible to help the clubs, but that doesn't mean ALL their games.
(7) Don't blame AUS for the timing, blame FIFA, the confederations & FA's (UEFA & EFA in Leeds' case) for agreeing those international time slots.

I feel for Viduka and Leeds but this could & should have been sorted, before the Dukes & Leeds showed their negotiation skills in such an inept fashion, and did a no-show.

Personally, I'd ban (and not pick again for national duty) all the other players with such patently contrived injury excuses as well. The national team would eventually be better off for it.

The whinging clubs would not recruit our internationals, if they were not internationals (that's the law in England). We need them now, not at when it's no longer inconvenient to them.

I also am frustrated that this happens on every game Australia plays (be they ever so few) and I agree with the new ASA executive when they say it's got to stop, now and not after it's too late, when we've been thrashed yet again in the WCQ's.

At least AUS may end up with a team of players who take pride in their country's strip and want to play, not just when it suits them.

It'll be tough for AUS and our performances can't get any worse (FIFA # 83) than they are today.
If you can't understand how that feels, then all I can say is sorry, but that's football life.

AUS has taken a hard lesson from FIFA (& it's mangy fellow running dogs, UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC & Oceania) and is just exercising its rights.

It's not Frank Farina (the coach) who's throwing around his weight but John O'Neill (the new ASA CEO) and Frank Lowy (the President of ASA). Frank Farina is also on notice to get on with it, or get on his bike. These men were brought in to clean out the years of mess in the ASA and are very successful, tough and determined at it. They've started by cleaning out the state-based football politicians and are now addressing the organisation structure & teams.

Viduka & Chipperfied are only the first players to get their tough love. I think you may know the names of a few others.

Rant over.

Andy T.

 

That's the second most important stadium (in terms of soccer fans and location).
The venezuelan coach complained 1-2 weeks before the game because the stadium looked like crap in many ways.
I believe it's the organizers fault (some company that has the right to Venezuela's games. They should make sure that everything is good, specially the field.

 

DanRod78, Thanks.

 

Leeds Outraged By Viduka Ruling

Leeds have expressed their outrage at the Australian Soccer Association's decision to prevent Mark Viduka from playing against Manchester United this weekend.

The ASA have invoked a FIFA ruling which allows them to prevent the striker playing for his club for five days following his failure to report for international duty.

Viduka was called up for last night's friendly with Venezuela in Caracas but withdrew from the squad due to a hamstring injury sustained in last week's win over Wolves. The player has also only recently returned from Australia after travelling home to visit his ill father.

Barclaycard Premiership strugglers Leeds will now have to make do without him for Saturday's trip to Old Trafford but are considering legal action.

A club statement read: "This decision has shown a complete lack of understanding and compassion towards Mark, whose father Joe is still critically ill over in Australia and to Leeds United Football Club who, given Mark's personal circumstances, had no hesitation in granting him unlimited compassionate leave so that he could be at his father's bedside.

"Furthermore, having not trained for three weeks whilst in Australia, Mark complained upon returning to Leeds of pain in his lower back and tightness in his hamstrings.

"Leeds United Football Club and Mark Viduka have following his selection for this game been open and honest with ASA and given his loyalty to both club and country it is difficult to understand why such a hard stance has been taken which does not appear consistent with that for those other players who, for whatever reasons, did not travel to Caracas.

"Leeds United Football Club fighting a battle for survival both on and off the pitch, have just 13 games to secure their place in the Premiership and, given the stance taken to date by ASA, they now face the prospect of taking on Manchester United at Old Trafford without the services of one of their key players.

"Leeds United Football Club is taking legal advice and will explore every available avenue in seeking to redress this potential injustice."

FIFA's rule states that any player failing to make themselves available for international duty will be rendered unavailable for their club for five days after the period they should have been released.

The ASA were unhappy with the explanations given by Viduka and Scott Chipperfield for not travelling but found in favour of four other players, including Liverpool's Harry Kewell and Blackburn's Brett Emerton.

A statement from the ASA said: "In the case of Mark Viduka ASA emphasises that while it is sympathetic to Mark's personal situation, it notes he has played twice for Leeds since returning from Australia to visit his ill father.

"Furthermore, ASA is not satisfied that Mark has sustained an injury which would have prevented him taking the field in Caracas.

"ASA is committed to the principle that Australia should field its best possible team at all times and that those players selected should make themselves available. At the same time, ASA recognises that the few opportunities for international matches in a crowded football calendar place unique pressures on all involved - administrators, players and their clubs.

"In this decision, ASA has taken a sympathetic view of the circumstances of all players but ultimately decided there were grounds for invoking Article 40 of the FIFA Regulations in the cases of Scott Chipperfield and Mark Viduka.

"If action was not taken against these players it would run counter to the spirit and letter of both ASA and FIFA policy and be unfair to those players who found time in their busy schedules to represent Australia.

"It would also be unfair to those clubs which, under very difficult circumstances, released players to represent Australia against Venezuela."

The ASA however stated that they accept the difficulties involved in travelling across time zones and are to establish a base in Europe.

Many of their top names play in Europe and their March 30 friendly against South Africa is to be played at Loftus Road.

Viduka has expressed his disappointment at the decision of the ASA but has said he will not be retiring from international football as a result.

A statement from Viduka, issued by Chris Page, of the Insite Organisation, read: "I am extremely disappointed by the stance taken by Soccer Australia.

"Leeds United officials requested that I be withdrawn over an injury picked up in the game against Wolves.

"They considered and submitted medical opinion that as the injury was sustained due to lack of match fitness, treatment and rehabilitation would be a better option rather than the amount of travel required for this fixture.

"However, at this time I also had an open and honest dialogue with the ASA expressing my thoughts that this game had come at the wrong time for me due to my recent personal circumstances: a time when I feel I need to be with and available to my family."

"Sadly, this also was not deemed acceptable."

But he added: "I want everyone connected with, or following the Socceroos to know that I care passionately about playing for my country and thoughts of retiring from the national team were never an option."

Crowdie