Fox Sports NRL commentator Andrew Voss aims for another dig at the Matildas after heartbreak in World Cup semi-final against England
NRL commentator Andrew Voss again flirted with controversy following the heartbreak of Matildas World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.
“Back to work,” the Fox Sports commentator posted on social media shortly after Australia lost 3-1 to England at Stadium Australia.
His post appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to calls for a holiday in case the Matildas win the World Cup on home soil.
Before the Matildas were dumped from the tournament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had argued that Australians should be rewarded with a day off if they were victorious, but Voss denounced the idea on his SEN breakfast show on Monday.
“I just think it (a holiday) is so wrong,” he told his audience.
NRL commentator Andrew Voss has flirted with controversy again after Matildas’ World Cup semi-final loss to England
Voss’ post on social media appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to calls for a holiday if the Matildas won the World Cup on home soil
“No, I do—and I mean it seriously. I thought about it for a while and I thought: this is not right, this is not how it works.
“I know this will shock you, Brandy (former NRL great Greg Alexander). There are people who don’t really do sports.
“There are people who aren’t invested in the Matildas.”
Earlier on the show, Voss said there must be “more important things” to justify a national holiday and labeled the idea “BS” and “ridiculous.”
The Albanian eventually abandoned his plan to pitch a holiday to the national cabinet if the Matildas won the World Cup.
South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas had repeatedly warned that he did not want to curse the team ahead of Wednesday night’s game.
Speaking to ABC’s Radio National, the Labor leader of state said he’d rather invest the $18 million holiday price tag in women’s sports facilities.
Australia lost 3-1 to England at Stadium Australia on Wednesday night
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“I don’t want to be superstitious about tonight’s result, but what I do think, regardless of the result, is a huge investment in women’s facilities within grassroots sport,” he said.
Victoria’s Daniel Andrews and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have both sidestepped questions in recent days, preferring a wait-and-see approach.
Albanians had first floated the idea in June and steadfastly dismissed criticism that a holiday would negatively impact small businesses.
England at least made sure that holiday plans were no longer necessary, as goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo saw them book their place in the World Cup final.