Matildas star Sam Kerr calls for more governmental support for football

Matildas captain Sam Kerr has called for Australia’s deep run in the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be used as a catalyst for change in how governments support football.

Speaking following the Matildas 3-1 semi-final loss to England in front of a 75,784 capacity full house at Stadium Australia and packed live sites across the country, Sam Kerr has called on all the politicians who jumped on the team’s bandwagon during the FIFA Women’s World Cup to dip into their pockets and start adequately funding women’s football.

A disappointed Kerr expressed her belief that Australia has the talent to win the top prize in women’s football but said it won’t happen until Federal and state governments investing in women’s football like it does in men’s sport.

Kerr advised “I can only speak for the Matildas, but we need funding in our development.

“We need funding in our grassroots. We need funding everywhere. The comparison to other sports isn’t really good enough.

“Hopefully this tournament kind of changes that because that’s the legacy you leave, not what you do on the pitch.

“It’s hard to talk about now but hopefully that is the start of something new.”

Australian coach Tony Gustavsson supported Kerr’s statements and said the push from players for more funding and support was connected to their “why” of playing.

Gustavsson stated “I hate to lose. But I said it before, it’s bigger than 90 minutes of football. We’re very disappointed that we lost, but, hopefully, we won something else. We won the heart and the passion for this team in this country.

“But I agree with the players, this is not the end of something, this needs to be the start of something. And with that comes money as well.”

Gustavsson reflected on others pointing out Australia didn’t have the same resources as countries like England but did have something “very special”, which includes “being Aussie and representing your country”.

Gustavsson acknowledged that for Australia to rival top global sides, more funding and investment was needed, from the top level down the grassroots.

Despite being Australia’s highest participation team sport, football receives far less development and facilities funding from governments than the AFL, NRL and rugby union, a situation highlighted in 2021 by Football Queensland who in September of that year The issue came to light on Friday when Football Queensland shared an infographic across its social channels claiming that football in Queensland receives just “$47.97 per participant in infrastructure investment” to support “more than 180,000 participants across the state”.

The state body compared that with $383.23 per head for AFL and $655.27 per participant in infrastructure investment for rugby union.

Support
Last night's Matildas’ match against England became the most watched television program in Australia - sport or otherwise - since 2001 when the existing rating system was established with a peak of 11.5 million viewers.

Tens of thousands also turned out across the country to watch the semi-final, which saw both Melbourne’s Federation Square and Sydney’s fan festival site at Tumbalong Park reach capacity, and large stadiums fill with fans to watch the game.

Asked whether the attention had shown that Australia was a “football nation”, Kerr said the support had been there, they just brought it out, adding “I think the crowds and the fans have proved that, not us.

“They’re the ones that have come out and supported us and watched us on the big screen, bought our jerseys.

“I think that’s all down to the fans showing that this country really will get behind football if you bring the world game to our country.”

Former Socceroo and prominent football pundit Craig Foster has urged the Australian public to maintain the support for the Matildas, Socceroos and the domestic leagues after the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Speaking after the Matilda's loss, Foster said a strong domestic competition will ensure the success of the Australian football for years to come.

Foster said on SEN 1170 Breakfast “one of our greats, Ange Postecoglou, is right at the forefront of the national consciousness.

“The Matildas are doing well and we’ve got our domestic competition starting soon.

“What we are saying to everyone who has loved the Matildas, who is loving what our coaches are doing (is to) go in and support our local game as well.

“It’s a great thing to be watching the Champions League and to be loving the Matildas but we also need that support locally.

“Take out your phone, get a membership to your local A-Leagues club and support the local game.

“That’s where Sam Kerr came from, that’s where Cortnee Vine came from and that’s where Ange Postecoglou started his coaching career.

“That’s the development pathway and we need to lift our domestic game in order to have more of these great teams and great emotions.”

Images: Sam Kerr in action during last night's FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final in Sydney (top, credit: Damian Briggs) and last night's Matildas’ match against England became the most watched television program in Australia with a peak of 11.5 million viewers (below, credit Seven Network).