Socceroos defender Jason Geria has joined growing calls for schools and bosses to give students and employees the chance to watch Australia play Paraguay at 12pm AEST on Friday.
When asked about kids being told they would be unable to watch the pivotal World Cup clash, Geria quipped: ‘Let them watch!’
The 33-year-old said teachers could wheel televisions into classrooms or use students’ existing iPads to make that happen, while praising scenes of fans celebrating at sites, pubs and homes.
Geria added: ’12pm on a Friday — it doesn’t get much better than that leading into the weekend.
‘So if they could let their employees or let their students watch, that would be amazing.’
He’s not alone in calling for workers to be allowed to down tools to watch the team try to guarantee progression to the knockout stages with a victory over the South Americans.
Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda (pictured) will be hoping to bag another goal when Australia faces Paraguay on Friday – and there are calls for Aussies to be allowed to down tools at work and school so they can watch
Fans like these at Melbourne’s Federation Square have flocked to watch the Socceroos in their first two games
Aussie star Jason Geria has told bosses, teachers and principals to give staff and kids some free time to watch the clash at midday on Friday
Australia’s assistant coach Paul Okon has also backed the calls for a day off for workers.
‘We were expecting that our Prime Minister, Mr Albanese, would give everyone a day off so people didn’t need to scramble to find a TV set and watch it,’ Okon said.
A new survey by the World Cup Watchers’ Rights Association found 53 per cent of Aussie bosses will be actively making arrangements to allow their workers to view the match.
But not everyone is convinced employees should have the afternoon off this Friday.
Former Socceroos captain Paul Wade has come out against the potential move.
‘Honestly, if I am a business owner, which I am, I don’t want my staff nicking off to watch a game of football,’ he told Sunrise.
‘No way in the world should you have a day off.’
NSW Premier Chris Minns also refused to make Friday a public holiday.
Wade’s comments come as the Socceroos’ hype train has also reached new levels.
A petition pushing for a public holiday to be issued after the Socceroos qualify for the knockout stages has drawn more than 7000 signatures.
‘What better way to celebrate unification nationwide than to have a day of celebration … to congratulate our Australians on the biggest stage,’ the petition homepage reads.
‘It’s not just a game – it’s about much more!’
