Financial fears spur Australian sport to play on despite virus

As events are scrapped around the world to counter the threat of coronavirus, a handful of Australia's main sports are doggedly pressing ahead, spurred by fear of financial ruin.

While major competitions elsewhere have suspended their seasons in hopes of curbing the pandemic, rugby league and football have chosen to continue playing to empty stadiums after the government banned public gatherings of more than 500 people.

Players from the country's most popular spectator sport, Australian Rules (AFL), have stated they too want to carry on, with a decision still pending on whether games are played this week as scheduled.

At stake is not only Australian fans' deep thirst for watching their favourite teams, but lucrative broadcast commitments, with television money their lifeblood.

Making matters worse, the spiralling virus threat has struck at the start of the season for rugby league and AFL -- both big industries in their own right.

The National Rugby League (NRL) only kicked off last weekend and the AFL is due to get underway on Thursday.

According to Sydney's Daily Telegraph, every weekend of rugby league is worth around Aus$1.2 million (US$740,000) to each of the 16 clubs in TV rights, not to mention ticket sales, corporate hospitality, merchandise, and food and beverage income.

- 'Big trouble' -
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"Our money will only last so long, and once it's extinguished, we are in big trouble."
- Doomsday scenario -
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"The financial impact on the sport is something at some point we are going to get to," said FFA chief James Johnson. "But our priority right now is to ensure our people are safe."