The Sun-Herald

Friday, November 23, 2007

Fight Club: The Secret Life of David Beckham

Australian Andy Bernal was the man they tried to ban.

It's a long story, suitable for a movie if any Hollywood executives are reading, but one that David Beckham, who arrives in Sydney this weekend, will know parts of - intimately.

Bernal is a former Socceroo who played for Sydney Olympic in the old NSL, Reading and Ipswich Town in England, as well as modest stints in Spain with Sporting Gijon and Jerez.

In 2003, when Beckham first joined Real Madrid, Bernal was hired by international management company SFX to be Beckham's personal assistant, go-fer, all-round can-do man.

You can read part of the bizarre true story, which involves spies, Fidel Castro (really) and bikini-clad assistants, here.

The adventure ended, in part, when Beckham decided against renewing his management agreement with SFX and instead took up with his wife's representatives, the omnipresent 19 Entertainment.

Here is 19's information-free website here.

But there's some more detail here.

After Bernal was pulled from his job in Madrid, he recalls, sitting in the London office of SFX and was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement to cover his time with Beckham.

The price? The princely sum of £1.

SFX wanted to ban Bernal from talking about his experiences with one of the world's biggest celebrities as well as his intimate dealings with SFX's business practices. They needn't have bothered.

The "offer" was - laughingly - made retrospectively. SFX had sent Bernal to Madrid without a contract, agreement, or anything written even on the back of a beer coaster about his actual job with Beckham.

It was truly make it up as you go along.

Bernal declined the invitation to sign away his right to speak. But Dave, if you're reading this, you need not panic.

Bernal also declined invitations from several UK tabloids to talk about his time with Beckham, the infamous Rebecca Loos, and wife Posh Spice.

Even when he found reporters going through the garbage of his sister's house, he turned down considerable amounts of cash.

So the details of Beckham's time in Madrid remain pretty much secret.

Yeah, there were parties at Ronaldo's house. Sure, there were supermodels. And there was that pesky Rebecca Loos business.

There is also Beckham's obsessive-compulsive desire to line up his sneakers neatly and his struggles to wear a pair of undies more than once.

But we all have our quirks and Beckham's show that, deep down is he is just the rest of us (his wife, we're not so sure about).

One of the last conversations Bernal had with Beckham was in a Madrid hotel when Posh told Bernal: "Andy, we all have mortgages to pay. We've all got to do what we've all got to do."

It was a revealing comment.

Bernal won't be meeting with Beckham when the Los Angeles Galaxy circus set up their tent in Sydney. Football is a transient business and best of friends, colleagues, teammates, coaches, come and go.

Just ask Frank Yallop, Galaxy's former coach and a former teammate of Bernal's at Ipswich.

Yallop has been made surplus to requirements at Galaxy and left the club for the relative calm of MLS side San Jose.

Bernal now spends time between Canberra and Sydney. He's involved in a project with several former Socceroos - and international heavyweights - in the design for a revolutionary new boot.

The boot invention is another thing Bernal won't talk about, comparing it to Fight Club.

The first rule of Fight Club, you might remember, is you don't talk about Fight Club.

The second rule of Fight Club?

Beckham will be pleased to learn that, too, is you don't talk about Fight Club.

• by Matthew Hall at 02:16 AM
• Comments (1)

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Advocaat? Advo-Can!

The Saturday afternoon London pubs around Putney Bridge, closest to Fulham's picturesque riverside Craven Cottage ground, were filled with Australian accents, green and gold scarves and, still bizarrely Wallabies jumpers.

Rugby boss John O'Neill, once football's Australian boss, would have been proud.

Fans stood around, midday pints in hand, explaining to English friends about the A-League and how football, as in roundball, really is popular back home.

These are the discussions that still have to be had.

Before kick-off, Craven Cottage's PA system boomed The Hoodoo Gurus '80s classic "What's My Scene".

That's a question supposed coach-in-waiting Dick Advocaat no longer has to ask.

Football Federation Australia is reeling from Advocaat's decision to stay in St Petersburg rather than honour his agreement to take over Australia.

As late as Friday afternoon, at the team in hotel in Shepherds Bush, Australian officials maintained the line that Advocaat was expected in London to watch his new team in action against Nigeria.

Most players, though, were more realistic. "I have a gut feeling," one senior player told me before wincing.

He wasn't pulling a pained face because of dodgy hotel food. He knew Advocaat was gone before he'd arrived. Other players, too, hedged around questions about Advocaat.

There's one thing that's for sure about football players. Silence can be golden.

Advocaat's absence is not all bad news. Despite FFA's infatuation with all things Dutch, Advocaat is and was no Hiddink.

Now, the options for Australia are wide open - the only enemy is time. Oh, and a bit of money.

A return for Graham Arnold is out of the question and not just because of his Olympic team duties. Several senior players are still feeling the effects of the Asian Cup debacle.

Technical Director Rob Baan has no inclination to take a full-time coaching role. Maybe just as well.

Baan said on Friday that he'd not studied the Nigerian team ahead of the overnight friendly because "their names are difficult" (yes, he actually said this but, giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe something was lost in translation).

He added "if you live far away in Australia it is difficult to see Nigeria's players in action" (even though they play in Europe).

Then Baan referred to the Asian Cup-winning coach of Iraq as an Argentinean. Jorvan Vieira is in fact a Brazilian who lives in Morocco but what are details, hey?

"Iraq played wonderful tactical football at the Asian Cup," Baan added.

But apparently not wonderful enough or sufficiently astute for FFA to consider Vieira as a candidate for Australia.

I spoke with Vieira last Monday.

He was in Portugal, heading to Paris for some meetings. He's not leading a lifestyle of the rich and famous but is yet to accept an offer after winning the Asian Cup. A position with Australia certainly appeals.

Vieira has attracted attention from Iran, who are also searching for a new coach. Another Dutch legend Ronald Koeman was under consideration by the Iranians but he took a job in Spain with Valencia instead.

Such is football.

Fabio Capello has told friends he's interested in talking with Australia. He was interested in June. He was interested in July. But Australia's Advocaat obsession - and the contract they signed with him in August - ruled out any discussions with Australia.

How long can a shopping list be? As long as the many products on the shelves.

Australia may have no coach but they had spirit to burn against Nigeria in one of the most refreshing performances for some time.

The Nigerian fans, outnumbered by Australians, sang "All we are saying is give us a goal..."

David Carney gave them one from his rocket powered left-foot.

Nick Carle showed hunger and intelligence. He is worth his place even with a fit Tim Cahill available.

A newly beefed-up Harry Kewell always makes Australia look a better team with a mind that is always a few frames ahead of his rivals (and occasionally teammates).

Scott McDonald's pace and movement caused constant problems for Nigeria's defence.

Mark Schwarzer's reactions, especially with a first-half acrobatic save, gave Mark Bosnich, watching from the Fox Sports commentary box, some time to rethink any idea of a comeback.

On the pitch, there's a lot of promise.

Imagine what can be achieved with a real leader.

• by Matthew Hall at 04:01 AM
• Comments (27)

Saturday, November 10, 2007

FIFA, Corruption, and Lies

Is Australia ready to play games to host 2018 World Cup?

There's much for Football Federation Australia, the Federal government, and the country as a whole, to learn from England's failed attempt to host the 2006 World Cup.

None of it is about stadium construction, public transport, smiling volunteers, or sunny weather in the middle of winter (when a down under World Cup would be scheduled).

This week, an email landed in my inbox from Andrew Jennings, a British colleague whose investigations into the International Olympic Committee and FIFA have become the stuff of journalistic legend.

You can visit his website here.

Some people compare Jennings to a moral crusader, a shining light in a fog of facts and misinformation, and one of not many of his profession prepared to take on powerful sporting organisations to expose abuse of powers and outright corruption.

Others, and that includes FIFA president Sepp Blatter who has banned Jennings from any FIFA events, might consider him to be a delusional irritating nut case.

Jack Warner, the powerful FIFA executive committee member exposed and shamed for on-selling his country's ticket allocation for the 2006 World Cup for profit is certainly no fan.

Warner's response to questions about the issue was to spit on the journalist.

Maybe Jennings hit a sensitive spot.

Warner, whose power comes from being boss of Trinidad and Tobago's football association, was hauled before FIFA's Ethics Committee and asked to explain his ticket sell off.

SBS TV's Les Murray is a member of the committee that found Warner had been a very naughty boy. Warner was sent upstairs to face his fellow Executive Committee members to be reprimanded.

The punishment for blatantly abusing his privileged position?

FIFA's top bosses told him to be more careful with Trinidad and Tobago's ticket allocation in future.

You can read about the outcome here.

Jennings' latest email concerned some of the challenges facing England's bid for the 2018 World Cup, the same event that Australia is planning a run for.

England's football history, position in Europe, so-called Best League In The World, logistical infrastructure and economy all mean nothing, the theory went, if the bid was not politically savvy.

A recent Jennings' TV program for the BBC explained that the England bid for 2006 included sending out the all-star national team to play diplomatic friendlies against lightweights Saudi Arabia and Malta, games that perhaps added a new twist to the term "meaningless" for non-competitive matches.

It was also explained the England FA paid for Thailand's national team coach (an Englishman).

You can read about other issues the program addressed here.

None of this is illegal nor corrupt but shows the tips and favours a bidding nation - like Australia - may have to participate in.

Of course, England didn't win the rights to host 2006. It didn't even make the final round.

With a little help from Charlie Dempsey, formerly the Oceania Football Confederation's comedic boss, South Africa was pipped by Germany.

(For those who have forgotten or never knew, here's a reminder of why Australia wanted out of Oceania for so long.)

Jennings' BBC program also reveals that part of Germany's bid-winning strategy was for its government to set up business and arms - as in military weapons - deals with Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and South Korea.

In other words, thanks for the soccer coach but we'll take a few bombs instead, anytime.

These are the sort of games Australia - not just Frank Lowy and the FFA - will have to put on the shin pads for if we're serious about 2018.

Last week's column about the potential 2018 bid met with many responses about daring to dream and if we don't try we will never get any where, etc, etc.

These were all admirable sentiments.

When John O'Neill began his stint as boss of the FFA he came with a top pedigree in Australian sport. He'd run the Australian Rugby Union and overseen a rugby union World Cup hosted by Australia.

But he told me on his return from his first FIFA meeting that he'd seen nothing like it.

He wasn't just talking about the buffet spread.

(Having attended some FIFA knees-ups, I can vouch for the abundant buffet).

O'Neill's admission, coming from one of the country's most experienced administrators, was revealing.

Australia's current influence within FIFA is relatively lightweight.

We have four positions on committees; one filled by Les Murray here.

You can see Frank Lowy's position here.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley's here.

And former Player's Union boss John Didulica here.

We're going to have start shaking a lot of hands at FIFA parties over the next few years.

The question is, do we want to get involved in the political machinations to successfully bid for 2018?

And, just as importantly, do we even care about allegations of corruption, power, and lies?

• by Matthew Hall at 04:29 AM
• Comments (10)

Saturday, November 3, 2007

A Bid Too Far?

Frank Lowy dares to dream but Australia hosting the 2018 World Cup may be just one power nap too many.

Let's add up Lowy's achievement ledger in the short time he's been headlining the reconstruction of Australian football.

(Yes, 2003 seems a lifetime ago).

Demolition of the National Soccer League. Tick.

Hiring one of the country's top administrators to run the sport (that was John O'Neill for those with short memories). Tick.

Establishment of a new, all-inclusive, family friendly, huggable national competition. Tick.

Creating a Kossie-powered A-League club in Sydney at a time when investment and commercial support was in short supply. Tick.

Relocating Australia from Oceania into Asia. Big TICK.

Firing Frank Farina and hiring an international super coach to guide the Socceroos to World Cup qualification. HUGE TICK.

Telling Mark Schwarzer which way to dive when facing the penalty shoot-out against Uruguay.

OK, I made that up but you get the idea.

Confirmation this week that the rotation system for hosting the World Cup (and let's face it, the only real World Cup) has ended and it's now open slather for bids has handed Lowy a challenge that he just can't resist.

But Australia for 2018?

Sorry to get Fabio Grosso on this party but it's not going to happen.

Here's an idea why: England's global TV broadcast deal for its national teams (and the FA Cup) from next year to 2012 nets the Poms over $1.2 billion.

Count that number out one digit at a time and send me an email when you finish in 2018.

Put simply, while Football Federation Australia is having to ask kids to pay $10 a year registration fees in order for our top level national teams to function, England's FA is loaded.

That's one reason why Lowy said last week that without financial assistance from the Federal Government, any Australian 2018 bid is doomed.

Our bidding rivals are all heavyweights, each with their own credible and reasonable claim to host the same tournament.

The weakest is a supposed combined bid from Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland, which will no doubt be the first to be derailed. Sepp Blatter said never again after Japan and South Korea's joint effort in 2002.

A Benelux bid would also see Luxembourg qualify but might also provide a platform for the eventual abolition of Belgium, which some people think is a good idea.

(Dear TinTin, I'm kidding).

England is sentimentally, geographically, and financially strong and assisted by excellent facilities both current and proposed.

Mexico and the United States are former hosts worth revisiting while Russia and China are huge - huuuuuuuge - growing markets for football. Especially financially.

And then there's little old 'Straya.

A massive island in a poor time zone for Europe and American TV sets represented by a team that can't guarantee it will get itself out of the first round group games (remember the Olyroos embarrassing Sydney 2000 'campaign'? No? Lucky you.).

So, in the aftermath of 2006, the relative success of the A-League, and the incredible growth and potential of football in Australia, it's easy to feel that all we have to do for 2018 is open the door.

But here's the reality check. Bidding for a World Cup is difficult and a tougher task than hosting the Olympics.

As an example, perhaps ironic for constitutional republicans, England is likely to employ Prince William as an ambassador for its own cause.

This means that Australia's apparent future king will be actively arguing against Australia hosting 2018.

(We'll leave Prime Minister Howard to explain that one next time he's seen wearing a Socceroos tracksuit).

But as Lowy - and Australian and Socceroo spirit - will argue, none of this makes 2018 an impossible dream.

It's just that for this game, Australia will need Hiddink-like genius, Aloisi-like focus, and all the Kewellesque cunning and guile we can muster to be taken seriously.

Plus we'll need a referee - in this case FIFA - to be fair and evenhanded.

And as Lucas Neill will tell us all, when you're playing the big boys on the world stage, the biggest dreams are made to be broken.

• by Matthew Hall at 09:31 AM
• Comments (42)