Financial Expert Warns of AFL decline

Australian Rules football may face a future where it exists only at cultural festivals, according to a new book that applies economic analysis to some of footballâs greatest truths and biggest myths.
Simon Kuper, co-author of 'Soccernomics' believes that it is inevitable football will overtake the other sporting codes as the most popular game in Australia.
Kuper told SBS The World Game website that "football does seem to be unstoppable in virtually all known societies.
âI am not a missionary for soccer. I try to look at it neutrally but I just do think that it seems to be the story everywhere that soccer is immensely powerful.�?
Kuper, a highly credentialed author and a columnist for the Financial Times, and co-author Stefan Szymanski, Professor of Economics and MBA Dean at Londonâs Cass Business School, predict Australian Rules football has a shaky future as football continues its rapid growth in Australia.
SBS' Matthew Hall wrote that "the bookâs claims will add more fuel to an already toxic culture war between the Australian Football League and Football Federation Australia over a bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup."
Hall went on to suggest that the predictions in 'Soccernomics' will not be welcomed by AFL powerbrokers.
âOf course, Aussie Rules wonât wither and die tomorrow morning,�? Kuper said, adding ânor will NFL (in the USA) or sumo in Japan but I do think there are long term trends of the rise of soccer and decline of other sports.
âWhat you have seen since the 1980s is parents in Australia and the US being reluctant to send their children to quite rough activities. You can decry that and say that children should be (playing contact sports) and it is soft and sissy that they are not but the fact is that parents have a greater reluctance to enroll their children in those sports. That is a long-term disadvantage for Aussie Rules.
âThe other thing is that soccer has the prestige of being global so it is aspirational. If you compete in soccer you will compete in something global that the whole world cares about. The heroes (of football) are the heroes of the world and the World Cup is a story of the world.
âBut Aussie Rules can exist side by side with soccer. We said in the book that it may be a subsidized folklore festival so it is not my bet but I do think it is a distinct possibility.�?