Australia FA condemns Melbourne ban on World Cup watch parties
AFP | Sydney
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Football Australia called yesterday for a ban on public watch parties for the 2026 World Cup in Melbourne’s Federation Square to be reversed.
The governing body said it was “extremely disappointed” with the decision by Melbourne Arts Precinct, which cited previous “dangerous” fan behaviour in the square.
“The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world and unites Australia’s multicultural communities, while reinforcing our national identity,” said Football Australia chief executive Martin Kugeler.
“Live sites create iconic moments for Australian sports fans,” he added.
“Melbourne is one of Australia’s sporting and multicultural capitals, and this decision goes against this tradition.”
Katrina Sedgwick, chief executive of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, which manages the square, said the behaviour of some fans led to its decision not to host World Cup watch parties.
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