RMIT experts available for comment on 2018 FIFA World Cup

Sports marketing

Associate Professor Con Stavros 0411 231 371 or con.stavros@rmit.edu.au

Topics: sponsorship, fan behaviour, tournament experience, consumptive practices, branding and promotion

"The FIFA World Cup is the most significant sporting spectacle on the planet with a month-long extravaganza focused on one sport played across an entire country providing a narrative that will touch billions.

"The World Cup is FIFA's golden goose and produces the bulk of the revenues that allow the Swiss-based body to run the most popular sport in the world with such authority.

"With the 2022 World Cup to be played in November/December in Qatar and the 2026 version to feature a greatly expanded number of teams, the 2018 World Cup stands at what might be the crossroads of the event's supreme sporting significance.

"Australian fans were perhaps drawn a cruel footballing blow by featuring first up against one of the tournament favorites in France, but the Australian timeslot of 8PM (AEST) on a Saturday night is heaven sent and provides the Socceroos with what should be their most watched match at a World Cup.

"While the success of the Socceroos is not directly linked to the health of the game at home in Australia, there is no doubt a strong performance in Russia will provide a much-needed boost to the local game and would be especially welcome as the A-League and Football Federation Australia grapple with the complex process of mapping the road ahead domestically."

Associate Professor Con Stavros is a marketing expert with a genuine passion for the FIFA World Cup. He has held the iconic trophy in his hands, been a guest at FIFA headquarters in Zurich and is acutely aware how important the event is to FIFA, its stakeholders and the billions of people who watch the event across the world. An Associate Professor in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, he is also the editor-in-chief of the international journal Sport, Business and Management and has researched and published published extensively in sport.   

Global politics

Associate Professor Paul Battersby 0400 535 976 or paul.battersby@rmit.edu.au

*** Associate Professor Paul Battersby is in Russia between 6 June and 14 June and best contactable via text ***

Topics: global affairs, global governance, conflicts of interest/corruption, racism in soccer

"Will the World Cup deliver a global peace dividend? Let's see what alt-right soccer hooligans get up to.

"The World Cup is unlikely to distract attention away from Russian involvement in Syria, Ukraine, or from MH17 and the alleged poisoning of former Russian spies in London.

"Racism on and off the pitch will test FIFA's resolve."

Associate Professor Paul Battersby is the Associate Dean, Global and Language Studies in RMIT’s School of Global, Urban and Social Studies. He will be in Russia between  6 June and 14 June. He teaches in the area of global risk and governance, security, global crime, Asian business practices and international development. Associate Professor Battersby’s research interests include globalisation, governance, international development, paramilitarism, transnational organised crime and organised violence, humanitarianism in Australia and the social history of Australia’s engagement with Asia.  He has written several books and co-edited others.

Dr Binoy Kampmark 0400 547 842 or binoy.kampmark@rmit.edu.au

Topics: global politics, international and national security and terrorism

"The FIFA World Cup is a stage for Vladimir Putin to shine in light of his recent re-election.  This brings to mind the usual problems when sports and politics mix and whether such an event is merely a propaganda display.

"Mass scale sporting events provide regimes and governments with opportunities to shine and demonstrate the strengths and advances of a society.

"The World Cup will also enable Putin to deflect criticism over the role of Russia in Ukraine's civil strife, the issue of alleged responsibility over the downing of MH17, and the continued role of Russia in Syria.  Importantly, it will be a case of management and prestige.

"The question here is how many countries, if any, will express protest against Russia's role in recent international events by means of boycott."

Dr Binoy Kampmark is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Sciences. He regularly provides expert media comment on global politics, international and national security and terrorism and is a contributing editor to CounterPunch.

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