Thursday 12th January 2006

Football forces change of plan

Le Mans delayed due to World Cup

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Audi at Le Mans

The 24 Heures du Mans race will this year start at 1700 hours on Saturday 17 June, rather than at the traditional 1600 hours. The reason: football.

Race organiser Automobile Club de l'Ouest decided on the change because the World Cup, with the enormous amount of TV coverage it receives, starts at 1500. According to the club, football is of planetary importance so the TV broadcasters will want to show a football match, and the one that starts at 1800 (French time), rather than the race start.

As a result, the club reckoned that putting back the start of the race was the best solution because postponing the start means that it will go out live on channels throughout the world. "Its impact will be preserved and the race's supporters whether present on the circuit or watching it live on TV world wide will not suffer any frustration as would have been the case with a recorded broadcast", said the club.

"The same thing applies to the finish on Sunday and the rostrum ceremonies slotted in between two football matches -- Japan v Croatia at 1500 which will be massively watched by the Japanese who are both football and Le Mans fans, and Brazil v Australia at 1800."

Why the football schedulers couldn't have taken into account the race schedule instead, we'll never know -- especially since it's a very long-established event.

[woody]

Oh FFS

What is the obsession with Fg football???

Chris

[oagent]

woody said:

Oh FFS What is the obsession with Fg football??? Chris

Seconded! Surely more people go to Le Mans than go to a football match so sod them.

[IPAddis]

This is shocking. We have shed loads of sports channels, why can't one be showing football whilst the other is showing Le Mans. I know which one I would watch!

As mentioned, the obsession with football is mad. One joy of going to the USA is that you can escape for a little while. They have several national sports (Baseball, Ive Hockey, American Football, Wrestling, ...) so you there isn't the same culture.

Ian A.

>> Edited by IPAddis on Thursday 12th January 12:38

[fwdracer]

oagent said:

[quote=woody]Oh FFS What is the obsession with Fg football??? Chris

Check out the world audience (Televised) for the World Cup matches and Le Mans attendance is nit sh*t. In this case scheduling bows to the majority.



>> Edited by fwdracer on Thursday 12th January 12:52

[bigjimmy]

There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep the start of the race as high profile as possible. If England are in the final, I will be watching it rather than the start of the Race. And I dont care about football normaly.

The world Cup is the only part of Football I enjoy. It's just a shame some of our stupid England supports put this country to shame. Its same people that stand outside a paediatrician's house shouting NONCE!

[Gruffy]

Racing is an expensive sport, which depends on sponsorship revenue to survive (even Le Mans). This will have a huge impact to the viewing figures and the attached value for sponsors. I've never been a big fan of football, but in the real world, this is the only sound action to take.

Gruffy

[havoc]

It's the last comment I agree with - Le Mans has been there for YEARS. FIFA, if they cared, would have known. But football has disappeared up it's own arse with 'importance' recently, so wouldn't even consider the impact on a lowly motorsport event.

[combover]

I am F P off with this total and utter Bt about bloody football. Who the ping hell want to watch that load of bloody pansies dance around a sodding field FFS?!

I don't normally swear this much but I am SERIOUSLY Fed off about having to postpone the greatest motor race in the world for that bunch of tossers. And don't even get me started on the fake national pride that everyone seems to display only in the football season...how many cars do you see with England flags hanging out of their windows when the football isn't on? None!



One truly P off Combover

[vetteheadracer]

As France and England are not playing surely no one will actually be watching the matches?

The game in question on the 17th at 14:00 CET is Portugal vs Iran.....like anyone cares?

followed by Italy vs USA at 17:00 CET

The thing I find interesting is France play Sunday night at 20:00 CET so by putting the race back an hour there will be all sorts of congestion with the locals trying to get home to watch the match!

Excellent planning by the ACO.

How come when Euro 2004 was on, and Euro 2000 they didn't change the race start time?

[the fury]

Calm down everyone! What difference does it make? It's only an hour. When I first read the headline I thought they were moving by weeks or something. BTW I am not a massive football fan, but I understand that there's a lot more of 'them' than 'us' so I can see why the decision was made.

[combover]

the fury said:

Calm down everyone! What difference does it make? It's only an hour. When I first read the headline I thought they were moving by weeks or something. BTW I am not a massive football fan, but I understand that there's a lot more of 'them' than 'us' so I can see why the decision was made.

IT'S THE FING PRINCIPLE!

Combover

[cerbyt]

woody said:

Oh FFS What is the obsession with Fg football??? Chris

Not overly fussed about the start being moved by an hour or so (a week would have been catastrophic!!), however I agree entirely with the above statement. Cant stand football and have no idea why this country is so obsessed with it!!!

[combover]

vetteheadracer said:

As France and England are not playing surely no one will actually be watching the matches? The game in question on the 17th at 14:00 CET is Portugal vs Iran.....like anyone cares? followed by Italy vs USA at 17:00 CET The thing I find interesting is France play Sunday night at 20:00 CET so by putting the race back an hour there will be all sorts of congestion with the locals trying to get home to watch the match! Excellent planning by the ACO. How come when Euro 2004 was on, and Euro 2000 they didn't change the race start time?

Because they don't have any...



...Balls.

Combover

[Bomber Denton]

combover said:

the fury said: Calm down everyone! What difference does it make? It's only an hour. When I first read the headline I thought they were moving by weeks or something. BTW I am not a massive football fan, but I understand that there's a lot more of 'them' than 'us' so I can see why the decision was made. IT'S THE FING PRINCIPLE! Combover

Agreed!

[bigjimmy]

vetteheadracer said:

As France and England are not playing surely no one will actually be watching the matches? The game in question on the 17th at 14:00 CET is Portugal vs Iran.....like anyone cares?

Oh... I assumed it was the Final!!! I'd watch the race over that anytime.

[porkus]

yes agree also

[IPAddis]

vetteheadracer said:

Excellent planning by the ACO.

As per usual. Who gave the most important race of all time to the ACO to organise?

[zevans]

oagent said:

woody said: Oh FFS What is the obsession with Fg football??? Chris Seconded! Surely more people go to Le Mans than go to a football match so sod them.

Ah. So you're suggesting that the world audience for Le Mans is larger than the world audience for the World Cup matches - even a single match?

Now, you KNOW that's nonsense. (And so does PetrolTed, so let's not have any snide remarks in our editorials, please. I think this is an entirely reasonable decision.)

And if we ARE going to snipe - then this "news" is several days old. How embarrassing for PH.

[zevans]

And the start time WAS changed for Euro 96 and for World Cup 98.

[ross]

and i was looking forward to LM this year as i'd hoped the chavs who are starting to spoil it might go to the football instead...