Euro cash boosts FFA

IT is the game that the NSW Government believes will bring $ 8 million into its state economy, but Australian soccer stands to garner a similar sum from the swathe of European giants heading here this southern winter.

As Chelsea’s clash with Sydney FC was yesterday confirmed for June 2 at ANZ Stadium, negotiations for the television rights to the games were last night continuing, with the winning bid set to climb past $ 1 million.

Football Federation Australia holds the domestic broadcast rights to all the games involving Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Villareal, Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester City, as well as taking a $ 250,000 fee for approving each game.

Sources yesterday sugges- ted FFA would be able to bank some $ 6- 7 million, despite having to cancel its own A- League All- Stars event because of the glut of competing fixtures.

Chelsea are almost certain to be English Premier League champions by the time they arrive, adding to the allure of the Jose Mourinho- coached squad which the club’s Asia MD, Adrian New, said would be as strong as injuries permitted.

That is why the NSW Gov- ernment and ANZ Stadium have put a seven- figure package together to underwrite the game, which comes three days after Sydney face another London EPL side, Tottenham, at the same venue.

The Chelsea game took delicate negotiations because of the timings involved.

“This match will deliver about $ 8 million of economic benefit to the state of NSW, we’re expecting a significant number of travel packages to be sold around it,” NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said.

“Also you can multiply that into a blockbuster week of sport in NSW, including Origin, Spurs, the Waratahs and Chelsea.”

Analysis by the Victorian Government showed the $ 1.4 million it invested into Liverpool’s game at the MCG two years ago translated into $ 30 million of economic benefit.