Why aren't the Socceroos on free-to-air?

Most gooners don't like the international break. Some object to it on a philosophical level, and believe the idea of the nation-state to be an anachronism in a globalised world. Some object to it on an aesthetic level, and believe it shouldn't take precedence over the higher-quality football played by the Arsenal. And still others object to it out of paranoia, and believe international matches are part of a conspiracy by FIFA officials to injure our players and ruin our chances of "winning" 4th place.

Personally, I quite like the international break.

It's a chance to see what the Australian players have been up to. I've followed the Socceroos half-heartedly since the World Cup qualifying loss to Iran in 1997, and I've watched this current crop for a while. Unlike England, Australia has never produced more than six or seven "international-class" players at a time, so our teams tend to be static. Because of this, players tend to emerge early and you tend to follow them throughout their career.

I've seen the rise of Harry Kewell and the squandering of his early promise. I've seen Viduka rack up the goals with Celtic and Leeds. I've seen the class of Bresciano, and was absolutely gutted when the calcio scandal scuppered his chance of joining a top club like Milan or Juventus. I've seen Scott Chipperfield went from being a bus driver in Wollongong, to an NSL title with the Wolves, to a belated career in Europe and a World Cup appearance with the Socceroos.

Lately, though, I can't follow the Socceroos.

Foxtel, the local pay-TV company, has bought the rights to all Socceroos matches. Suddenly, I have to fork out money to watch them play. And it doesn't seem right to have to pay to watch Australia play. I reckon the right to watch the Socceroos play football on free-to-air TV should be a constitutional right. And in actual fact, the Federal Government has already passed legislation to preserve free-to-air access to significant Australian sporting events.

So why is it that the Socceroos can only be shown on Foxtel? I suppose the rub is the word "significant". Soccer isn't a "significant" sport in Australia. And therefore, their matches aren't "significant" enough to warrant free-to-air broadcasting. It irritates me no end, because I'd quite liek to see how the boys are shaping up for the World Cup.

In other news, Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain hasn't ruled out bidding for Cesc Fabregas in the January transfer window:

"He's a player who fits the Barca profile. He was born suckling on football here and one day he will end up playing at the Camp Nou. I am sure."

Who said nothing happened during the international break? Excuse me, I'm going to have to lie down. After the shock of that article, I'm feeling a trifle dizzy.