Fury as SBS lose Roos' WCQ TV

Fox Sports have stepped in and done an eleventh hour deal with the Asian Football Confederation’s TV rights partner Lagadere, previously known as World Sports Group.

@Socceroos weren't we supposed to be able to see important games on free to air TV nowadays? Where is my team? #dismay #football #confused

— Alex Mungall (@AlexMungall) September 1, 2016

SBS had shared rights to the World Cup Qualifiers with Fox Sports but the deal ended when the AFC took back the TV rights from the FFA for Lagadere to negotiate on their behalf.

Hahaha you can watch the FA cup on free to air tv because it's on the Antisiphon list, but Socceroos matches aren't...

— Rob (@RobskiNew) September 1, 2016

The final agreement on who would broadcast the remaining round of World Cup qualifiers has since been hanging in the balance until today’s announcement by Fox Sports that it would be showing the Iraq match, live and exclusive, as well as next week’s game against UAE.

The announcement prompted a furious backlash from fans who took to social media to vent their anger.

@fearofroundball Cant watch Socceroos vs Iraq WCQ on free to air tomorow night but can telecast Australian Diamonds v England Roses,Netball.

— Troy (@trojanishere) August 31, 2016

Today SBS site The World Game insisted they had been hoping to show the game.

No free-to-air @Socceroos coverage? Not even on delay or extended highlights? National events shouldn't be confined to greedy pay TV.

— Todger Todgerson (@thekingofswing) September 1, 2016

“SBS were interested in acquiring the rights for tonight's clash in Perth along with a number of other free-to-air broadcasters but a full explanation for the lack of a deal has not yet been given,” the broadcaster said in a story on their website.

@Socceroos must be made available to FTA TV @FFA the majority of fans demand it, the game wont grow without it.

— Euthyphro (@Euthyphro2) August 29, 2016

In July SBS told FourFourTwo the TV rights to the next stage of qualifying were not on their TV schedule.

“At this point in time the next stage of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers does not form part of SBS’s football offering,” said a spokesperson for the network.

Until @Socceroos are on FTA, I am black-listing them. @FFA

— Kazonaki (@kazonis) September 1, 2016

Qualification for the 2014 World Cup was shown on free to air along with the 2015 Asian Cup and previous qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

@SJR1978 @RobskiNew @IanSyson either way what's then the point of anti siphon list?

— ECP (@ecpkoko) September 1, 2016

UPDATED: Fox Sports are understood to be in the process of finalising a deal with a free to air broadcaster for the remaining qualifiers on the Socceroos' Road to Russia 2018.

An insider revealed the deal for the Iraq game was finalised too late for them to arrange a partnership with a FTA broadcaster before kick-off.

However they are hopeful they may have a deal in place by next week for the UAE match on September 7, with SBS the most likely partner.

It's understood Fox Sports won the rights for the World Cup qualifiers after no free to air broadcaster submitted a bid under the anti-siphoning rules, leaving them an uncontested bid for the broadcast rights.