Perth Voice Interactive

A YELLOW CARD has been issued to Paddington Alehouse’s bid to screen World Cup games throughout the night and into the early morning.

A 4-3 vote at Vincent council looks like cruelling the bid, with councillors concerned noise, parking and general soccer-related hooliganism may upset Mt Hawthorn locals.

The application now goes into extra time, with the final decision up to the WA liquor department. It can either red-card the bid or whistle it through.

“At the risk of being called the Fifa grinch, I’ll be voting against it,” Cr Ros Harley told colleagues. “I don’t believe this is the appropriate place to do it, it’s not a nightclub, it’s not an all-night venue, it’s a residential area.”

“I’m no wowser and I love the World Cup… I love the Paddo but my inclination is to say no because of where it is.”

Cr Laine McDonald, hoping to be the “Fifa fairy,” said “it’s an event that happens once every four years”: “It’s an event that gets people up at 3am even though they have to work in the morning because they’re so excited.”

Cr Matt Buckels, a known fan of the game, said, “it’s just an amazing experience to be in these places when things go nuts”: “It might be noisy for the neighbours, but it’s a small price to pay for a one-in-four year event.”

Cr James Peart said locals knew a popular pub came with the territory when they bought into Mt Hawthorn: “The pub’s been there 100 years, and nobody’s moved in more than 100 years ago.”

Cr Josh Topelberg demurred: “I’m no wowser and I love the World Cup… I love the Paddo but my inclination is to say no because of where it is.”

by DAVID BELL