The Football Federation Australia (FFA) national governing body is on the look-out for a new naming rights partner for the Australia national team after the Qantas airline opted to bring an end to its long-term deal, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The report said that Qantas had decided to scale back its involvement, although it would continue to act as the team’s official airline.
With the airline’s backing, the Qantas Socceroos qualified for the previous two editions of the Fifa World Cup, but the newspaper said that the FFA would be looking to find a new naming sponsor that is willing to pay at least A$4m (€2.9m/$3.9m) per year before the start of the 2014 World Cup.
The Australia national team booked its place at next year’s World Cup on Tuesday.
“Qualifying for Brazil with a huge wave of the national support behind the Socceroos is like putting the neon lights on the ‘for sale’ sign,” FFA chief executive David Gallop said. “The Socceroos are the team that represents Australia in all its diversity on the biggest world stage. We won't be short of interest in the naming rights.”
The newspaper said that Qantas had become frustrated by restrictions around its branding at the World Cup, as Emirates has exclusivity in the airline category for the tournament.
The report added that the FFA had held initial talks with a number of interested parties and was open to either a short-term or long-term deal.