'I am overturning it': Victorian premier announces backflip over 'stupid' World Cup call

The Victorian government has overturned the decision not to host Socceroos watch parties at Federation Square during the FIFA World Cup.

Following widespread anger over the decision, Victorian premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday morning confirmed she would overturn the decision.

The Melbourne Arts Precinct on Wednesday announced no Socceroos matches would be screened at the venue due to prior fan behaviour that was "simply unacceptable and damaging". Allan strongly disagreed with that decision.

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"Yesterday, Melbourne Arts precinct decided that Fed Square won't show Socceroos matches on the big screen. I disagree with that decision - and I am overturning it," Allan said in a statement.

"The government will ensure Fed Square has the support it needs to put on the matches this year.

"We're also looking at additional events and live sites, so Victorians have more options to watch. Now more than ever, people deserve more free stuff to do together in the city."

"There's always a risk of bad behaviour from a few dickheads at every public gathering, but police and security will be on site and there'll be zero tolerance for it.

"The World Cup should bring us together, not keep us apart. Good luck Socceroos - Victoria is behind you."

Bizarrely, the Melbourne Arts precinct has welcomed the Victorian government's decision to overturn their initial position.

"We welcome the decision to support Fed Square in its ability to provide a safe and welcoming live site for the 2026 World Cup," Fed Square Director & CEO Katrina Sedgwick said in a statement.

"We'll work closely with the Victorian Government, City of Melbourne and Victoria police to create a safe and secure environment, and we look forward to seeing the Socceroos back on the world stage, and on the big screen next month."

Earlier, Matildas star Sam Kerr and former Socceroos captain Craig Foster were among the many to lend their voices to the campaign to overturn the decision.

Foster slammed the "absurd" decision in an interview with Wide World of Sports. On Wednesday evening, Kerr reposted to Instagram a graphic of the news with a simple caption: "BOOOOOOOOOOO".

But not everyone was convinced it was necessarily a bad idea – with another former Socceroo suggesting the Bondi massacre has left organisers of public events "on tenterhooks".

"My first thought when I heard it was security," Mark Bosnich said on 3AW.

"I think it's safe to say … after the recent events and what happened in Bondi, I would strongly think that security officials and basically the powers that be everywhere are sort of on tenterhooks in terms of big events with a lot of people."

The Australian terrorism threat level remains at probable, which means "a greater than 50 per cent chance of an onshore attack or attack planning in the next 12 months".

Bosnich said he hoped that was the reason to not host the events, rather than any prejudices against football fans.

"A lot of times authorities do not want to speak exactly the way things are because they don't want to put fear into people," he said.

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"But if it's just because of a minority or some other reason, then we'll approach this in a different way. (World Cups) are once-every-four-year events and it's a great occasion for everyone.

"My first thought was security … and the bottom line is the first job of any government, of any agency, it to keep their people safe."

The venue has been a popular host of watch parties for a variety of sports since it was opened, but has had several instances of poor behaviour. Last November, a free Amyl And The Sniffers concert was cancelled just minutes before the band was due to take to the stage after hundreds of fans broke through the barriers.

Respected football pundit Adam Peacock was another to fire up over the decision on Wednesday, labelling it "absurd".

"You can stick that so far up where it is impossible to retrieve it's not funny," he said on SEN.

"That is one of the most myopic, baseless, stupid decisions that I can think of. I can only think it's because of the sport that's being played, football. It's a complete lack of understanding about people enjoying themselves in a wider sense.

"Melbourne is a city with all sorts of issues with crime, now you've got this communal event where the vast majority of people are behaving themselves, enjoying themselves, there's a spirit about it, (and) you're taking that away because you've shit yourself?

"I cannot believe they've come up with this decision. It makes the blood boil.

"Get stuffed."