SYDNEY: Les Murray, a veteran broadcaster whose voice became synonymous with football in Australia, has died aged 71 after a long period of illness, his employer said on Monday.

Widely known as Mr Football, Murray was the face of soccer coverage at multicultural broadcaster SBS and played a prominent role in growing the sport’s popularity in a country where cricket and rugby are king.

A member of FIFA’s ethics committee since 2006, Murray was born Laszlo Urge in Hungary in 1945, arriving in Australia as a refugee a decade later and changing his name.

He began working for SBS in 1980, covering numerous World Cups and hosting various football-based programs.

“The growth, popularity and success of football in Australia today is absolutely a reflection of his passion and advocacy for the game that he loved,” SBS said in a statement announcing his death.

Tributes flowed from across Australian football, with former English Premier League star and Socceroo Robbie Slater tweeting: “A massive loss for our game”, while ex-national goalkeeper Mark Bosnich called it ‘a sad day for so many’

Murray, who was a former member of an independent ethics committee established by FIFA, was inducted into the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame in 2003.

“This is a very sad day for football. Few people become synonymous with their sport. but Les was one of those few,” FFA chairman Steven Lowy said. “He made an immense contribution to football in Australia through his professional work but above all through his passion ... he literally brought the game to millions and connected us to the biggest sport in the world.”

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2017