Correction/clarification

Crikey writes: Re. “Media waltz right past Matildas, showering loser Socceroos with love” (yesterday). This article misstated that the Matildas were not featured at all on the front page of any Australian newspaper during this Women’s World Cup. We would also like to clarify a statement around the Socceroos “not qualifying for finals” in the Men’s World Cup. This refers to the quarter-final, semi-final or final round of the Men’s World Cup. The story has been clarified.

Matthew Cropper writes: I’m sure I’m not the first to point out a factual clanger in today’s piece by Brihony Tulloch comparing the Matildas and Socceroos’ media coverage but just in case, the article states that:

“By contrast, the men’s team played a grand total of three matches in 2014, against Holland, Chile and Spain, all of which they lost. Their performance during the World Cup has been consistently pretty ordinary — the last time they qualified for the finals was in 1974, when there was still a West Germany.”

The 1974 appearance was actually Australia’s first World Cup appearance but there have now been three consecutive qualifications since. The Socceroos qualified for the World Cup Finals in both 2006 (Germany) and 2010 (South Africa), progressing to the knockout stage of the former tournament before losing narrowly to eventual champions Italy. I would suggest other parts of the analysis of Australia’s 2014 World Cup performances as ‘ordinary’, particularly with regard to the match against the Netherlands, are highly dubious but ultimately a matter of opinion. By contrast, I think the error of fact outlined above merits rectification.

Picking the wrong target

Ken Lambert writes: Re. “Rundle: Freedom Boy and Eeyore’s Q&A misadventure” (yesterday). Isn’t it amazing how Guy and the Crikey left cheer squad find high principles at stake from afar when tiny minds like those of Zaky and Hicks are the poster boys for sticking it up the silent majority? I have to agree that Kelly and Wilson were not the best defenders of free speech last night, nor Plibersek who tip-toed carefully around the fact of Zaky’s repugnant tweets which nobody especially at the ABC seemed to know about in advance of the stunt last Monday night. Crikeyteers,  the enemy of your enemy is not your friend. Feeding them Kelly and Wilson will only mean that they might eat you last.

On Mayne and super

John Nightingale writes: Re. “Mayne: Keane is wrong, independent directors are needed on industry fund boards” (Monday). I would have thought that independent directors would be less likely to serve members interests, because they have no financial interest in the fund they are governing. Doesn’t Jack Lang’s advice apply? “Always back self interest because it will always run on its merits”.