Football Australia confirms SBS as broadcasters for the 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships

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2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships
Image credit: Kelly Defina

Football Australia has recently announced that SBS will be broadcasting the 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships.

SBS will deliver unrivalled coverage of the Championships with live and free access via SBS On Demand, providing greater visibility of the tournament and its athletes than ever before.

The tournament kicks off on November 4 and will end on the 11th, one week later. SBS will be broadcasting over 45 hours of football during that time period across both the Men’s and Women’s IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships, which is set to be played at the Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University in Bundoora, Melbourne.

The free coverage of these championships is a fantastic way to engage people with physical disability from many households with varying interests in the sport, and to hopefully attract and inspire the people in this community to participate in the sport.

Football Australia’s Head of Inclusion, Sarah Walsh, explained how important it was to have increased coverage of the event via free to air TV.

“SBS has a long and proud relationship with Australian football, and we are delighted they will support the 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships,” Walsh said in a Football Australia press release.

“At the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 we witnessed the transformative power of visibility and representation on the national level. Providing effortless access and increased opportunities to watch the CommBank Pararoos and the CommBank ParaMatildas, and show what is possible through football, could be lifechanging for an Australian living with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or symptoms of stroke.”

Pararoo captain and legend David Barber is excited at the opportunity to showcase the sport in front of a large TV audience.

“It’s incredibly humbling to know that this year, SBS will be helping to share our beautiful game with all of Australia,” he added via press release.

“This will bring fans not just of the green and gold, but the vast and rich diversity of our Asian Cup visitors as well, the chance to come together, and enjoy the pure competition that will light up Melbourne this year.”

SBS Director of Sport Ken Shipp also shared his thoughts on the broadcast agreement with Football Australia.

“SBS was established more than 40 years ago, and it is the only media organisation dedicated to inspiring a shared understanding and promoting the value of cultural diversity. One of the best ways in which SBS can bring Australians together in this way is through great sporting moments like the 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships,” Shipp explained via press release.

The CommBank Pararoos and CommBank ParaMatildas will feature in the opening day of match action on Saturday, November 4 as the men’s team faces Thailand (5.15pm AEDT) and the women’s team opens their campaign against Japan (3.00pm AEDT).

The finals will begin on Friday, November 10 with the women’s final followed by the men’s final on Saturday, November 11, 2023.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup showed the amazing influence that the Matildas had on the next generation of footballers in Australia and the Pararoos and ParaMatildas hope to make a similar impact in their respective communities.

The clear goal with the agreement is to expand the audience for this competition and try to increase participation among aspiring Australian footballers who suffer with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or symptoms of stroke.

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Labor announces campaign promise for Football facility upgrades in Hepburn Shire

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Soccer Facilities Set for $1.2 Million Upgrade in Hepburn Shire
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The growing participation of women and girls in soccer throughout the Hepburn Shire is set to receive a significant boost, with two local facilities earmarked for major upgrades.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King announced the funding commitment which targets Victoria Park in Daylesford and the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick.

This funding is totalled at $1.2 million should the Federal Labor Government secure re-election on May 3. These upgrades address critical infrastructure shortfalls that have hindered growth in female participation.

Labor Federal MP Catherine King, who has held the Labor ‘stronghold’ seat since the 2022 election has been vocal in her support for women’s football and the struggles faced.

“The current situation where women and girls are forced to use men’s changerooms, cars or old sheds for match preparation is simply not acceptable in modern sport,” King commented via The Ballarat Times.

“These clubs have created welcoming environments that women and girls want to be part of, and these upgrades will provide the facilities they deserve.”

The Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club, which currently supports approximately 150 players including 40 female participants, has been forced to implement membership caps due to inadequate pitch capacity.

The proposed reconfiguration at Victoria Park will deliver two senior-sized pitches, accommodating the surge in junior and women’s participation.

Meanwhile, at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve, funding will enable the construction of additional female-friendly changing facilities for both players and officials.

The commitment reflects the changing landscape of Australian soccer, with female participation rates continuing to climb nationwide.

Local sporting administrators have welcomed the announcement, noting that inadequate facilities have long been identified as a significant barrier to growing female participation in grassroots sport.

These election commitments would be delivered in accordance with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles should the Albanese Government secure another term.

The need for development of local facilities has become more evident and pressing. Most amateur clubs primary funding for upgrades is through government grants.

Sport is such an integral part of the Australian landscape and the need for fair opportunity for women gains momentum, promises like this hold great hope for people and lasting positive impacts.

As the most played sport in the state and Australia, especially among women, its positive to hear that, like other codes football is getting the recognition and support it deserves.

DAZN turns down LFP proposal to end Ligue 1 broadcasting deal

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Image credit: DAZN

Broadcaster DAZN has rejected a proposal brought forward by the French Professional Football League (LFP) to terminate its five-year broadcasting deal for Ligue 1 after one season.

The sports streaming platform originally signed a five-year deal worth AUD $715 million (€400 million) a year to broadcast eight out of the nine Ligue 1 matches each week.

But with fewer subscribers than expected — reportedly only around 500,000, far below the 1.5 million needed to break even, the company has been pushing to renegotiate the deal.

In February, DAZN held back half of a AUD $125 million (€70 million) payment, accusing the LFP of not doing enough to fight piracy.

It also criticised the league and clubs for not promoting its broadcasts or collaborating on content.

The LFP responded by taking legal action, and DAZN eventually made the payment by the end of the month.

In March, both sides entered mediation to reach a compromise.

According to several reports, the proposed solution would have DAZN pay the league AUD$250 million (€140 million) — covering the full amount owed for this season — plus up to AUD$223.6 million (€125 million) in compensation for next season.

After that, the deal will officially end at the close of the current season.

This week, Ligue 1 clubs voted in favour of the proposal but DAZN has now rejected it, paving the way for possible legal action.

As a result, the LFP released a statement regarding DAZN’s rejection of the proposal.

“LFP Media notes the failure of the mediation initiated at the beginning of March 2025,” they said in a press release.

“The contract binding the parties remains in force and LFP Media expects its partner to fully fulfil all of its obligations in this regard.”

Before the mediation process began, DAZN had demanded AUD $1.025 billion (€573 million) in compensation from the LFP, accusing the league of not living up to its end of the deal.

In response to the LFP, DAZN released its own statement.

“After four months of discussions — including six weeks of mediation — initiated in good faith by DAZN and involving several proposals, the mediation unfortunately did not succeed in sufficiently bridging the gap between the parties,” they said following the LFP’s statement.

“It has therefore not been possible at this stage to reach an agreement for an amicable resolution of the situation.”

DAZN’s rejection of the deal has effectively ended the mediation process, with negotiations between the streaming service and the LFP now finished.

However, reports from France indicate that the two sides are expected to meet again on April 30th, the deadline for DAZN’s next payment for the current season.

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