A-League bans several players after brawl
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The four players involved in a brawl during a pre-season A-League match between Newcastle and Wellington have received bans ranging from two to four weeks.
Jets’ player Tiago Calvano, whose tackle on Phoenix defender Manny Muscat in last Saturday’s match sparked the brawl, has been slapped with a four-game ban for the tackle and the subsequent fight.
The ban means Calvano will miss the remainder of the Jets’ pre-season games, but will be available for round one of the A-League season when the Jets take on Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium on October 7.
“We support the FFA’s decision and accept the punishment of a four-game suspension for Tiago,” Jets’ chief executive Robbie Middleby said.
“As a club, we don’t condone any form of retaliation or violent behaviour.”
The Phoenix were also hit hard by the match review panel with Muscat, New Zealand international defender Ben Sigmund and Australian Andrew Durante all receiving bans.
Muscat has, like Calvano, been hit with a four-game penalty while Sigmund with miss three matches and Durante has received a two-match suspension.
All three of the players will serve their suspensions on the Phoenix’s upcoming pre-season tour of India and will be available for the start of the A-League season.
A-League head Damien de Bohun supported the decision to ban all four players, adding he will be reminding all clubs of their behavioural expectations ahead of the new season.
“This kind of unprofessional and unsportsmanlike behaviour has no place in our game,” de Bohun said.
“I look forward to meeting with each A-League club before the season commences and reinforce not only our expectations on the professionalism of the sport but ways in which we can work together to grow the game.”
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (38) | Page 1 of Comments
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August 22nd 2012 @ 7:11am
Roarsome said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:11am | Report comment
Come on. Wasn’t this part of the celebrations to welcome David Gallop? I’m sure he feels right at home with a brawl to deal with.
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August 22nd 2012 @ 8:58am
nordster said | August 22nd 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
Four games is overkill, if there was no footage it would have been one game suspended im guessing….
If they want passion in a football league there is always spillover…unless theyd rather they all stand around in a circle holding hands at 10 minute intervals
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:05am
Lux said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Just heard on the radio there was a brawl at a Wanderers’ game last night, riot police called, more arrests, and it was reported that a fire cracker was thrown.
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:15am
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Had absolutely nothing to do with Wanderers.Sydney United fans caused the trouble its a real shame the Wanderers name has been dragged through the mud.
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:25am
philipcoates said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Most reports i have read this morning are pretty clear it was nothing to do with the Wanderers and their fans behaved themselves well.
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:42am
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Has anyone seen the picture of the fella in the head lock from the police?,he looks like Mark Viduka!,oh duke we wanted you back in the game in this country but not like this.
August 23rd 2012 @ 5:23pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
Most reports just screamed SOKKAH VIOLENCE and left it to the readers to come to their own conclusions that it was WSW fans after their club was mentioned I didn’t see one line in the Tele report making it explicitly obvious that WSW fans played no part in the disturbance. It was 100% brought on by one dropkick Sydney Croatia fan and an OTT response from cops probably looking for an excuse to kick a few sockah heads
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:43am
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Via twitter of Sebastian Hassett (SMH reporter) at the ground:
the facts:
1 firecracker
0 flares
11 evictions
1 arrest
1 banner deemed ‘offensive’ confiscated. A banner that said “Our thoughts” flanked by the reverse ‘V for victory’ hand symbol.
Lead Soccer reporter from the Daily Terror, departs game at HT.
All of course from the Sydney United fans – No Wanderers fans involved, but of course the Terror within 5 minutes(pre-prepared you think?) has a Soccer violence article on the interwebs. Disgraceful so-called journalism from Tom Smithies.
Well done SUFC58, you’ve just planted a flag in the ground last night was the night the dream of a FFA Cup died. There is no way FFA will attempt an FFA Cup when activities like last night are at risk of occurring
What gets my hackles up the most is that the Terror reports as if ALL Sokkah supporters are ‘bad’ and we are all lumped in with the Neanderthals who cant behave themselves.
(yes last night looks a severe media beat-up – as usual, but the damage to the game is the same I’m sick of being lumped in with the retards who don’t care about our game.
I there were truth in reporting we would have the tele going to town on Sydney Croatia58 and their imbecilic fans. Wanderers would get a reference only in the scoreline.
I was so effing angry when I was reading this unfold on twitter last night. Our game will never be rid of the stigma it carries with morons like SUFC fans attending games.
August 23rd 2012 @ 12:28pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
Can you believe this crap from “Director of Sport at the Telegraph, Sydney.”http://twitter.com/AlexBrown77/status/238426339500244992
” Hats off to @SmithiesTele for professional, measured coverage of Edensor Pk disturbance. Addressing an issue more difficult than ignoring it”
Yes, leaving the game at HT to rush to fill in the blanks to what was obviously a pre-meditated front page slam of football before the game is even completed is considred professional & measured is it? Hats off to the NSW Riot Squad for their professional and measured response to a firecracker and a slightly naughty banner. Good luck at the 1st Sydney derby football fans…the riot squad will probably be looking for a beef that October 20th too.
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:31pm
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
This is a complete non-story compared to what goes on at NRL matches but it lands on the front page of the Tele.
Tom Smithies is a sell out. I know he’s got to make a living for himself but once you write for News Ltd. you are no longer one of us. You are TOLD what to write and what will be published. Feel good stories about football are not something the Tele is after so this is the only way for him to feed his family. Fair enough, just don’t expect any respect from the football community.
I respect Michael Cockerill a great deal more. Smithies is a pi$$ant who charades as a football writer but in fact is a News LTD. puppet.
Good Luck to you Tom, I hope they’re paying you well.
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:40pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Of course its a media beat-up, the online Tele had a story with pictures up within 30 minutes – premeditated? I’m willing to bet yes.
It has been reported that Smithies left the game at HT having got exactly what he drove out there for in the first half:(
After the c-town frackup, there was always going to be a massive OTT police presence at King Tom last night. Well Done to the RBB for keeping their collective nuts down and not responding to provocation.
The thing I hate is that when the Canterbury bulldogs had similar problems a few years back. It was quite clearly marked as a Bulldogs problem, NOT a Rugby League problem.
Last week and this week, the low rent Tele couldn’t wait to brand this Soccer’s shame, tarring all football fans with the same brush as the numbskulls from Sydney Croatia.
You’d better believe the NSW Riot Squad will be licking their chops to kick some more heads come October 20th.
August 23rd 2012 @ 6:30pm
Ben said | August 23rd 2012 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
I was waiting for someone to bring the NRL in to it. Possibly why media is so quick to bash football and the fans, because in Australia no fans will take responsibility for something that shouldn’t have happened, just blame everyone else and most notably the NRL which is incredibly frustrating considering the NRL has a great reputation for the behavior of crowds. I can’t even remember the last time an NRL game was interrupted by riot police. Some idiots did something stupid, some cops overreacted and the media wasn’t fair. But until football fans can say “Some select few idiots did the wrong thing, the rest of us had a wonderful time” then we’re going to continue to be eyed a hooligans because by simply trying to pin the negative on the NRL – you’re looking for a fight.
August 23rd 2012 @ 4:42pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Some more facts:
11 arrested
45 evicted
1 Police Officer assaulted
13 people banned from the stadium for 6 months
Which football club brought that shame upon our great game?
these are the figures from Origin II this year. Funny I don’t remember reading much in the Telegraph about those 11 arrests/evictions only a couple of months ago?
I wonder what the figures are from your run of the mill AFL game?
August 23rd 2012 @ 5:22pm
BigAl said | August 23rd 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
re. your list of facts, nothing about police dogs or pepper spray – is that correct ?
August 23rd 2012 @ 5:35pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
No the picture tells a thousand words. one bloke goes to grab his mate allegedly to get him out of the ruckus…cop pepper sprays. Its got me beat why the cops went to all that trouble? My bro is a cop and he reckons if he farts near a perp he has 3 pages of paperwork to fill out, let alone grabbing & then using his CS spray. ACAB
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:37pm
Axelv said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
Kasey, aren’t riot police exempt from the paperwork? Hence their lack of accountability and responsibility. I don’t know by the way, I’m only assuming.
This type of thing that happened to Sydney United is the exact thing that Victory fans have been complaining about over the years. The only violence that occurs is that done by the police. Ask a cop calmly why are they doing this? *cracked with a baton and sprayed*
Thankfully this has stopped happening in Melbourne due to the fan charter, however Victory fans still experience this going interstate, especially NSW.
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:46pm
Punter said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:46pm | Report comment
BigAl, you dislike of football is well known, but come on, you cannot accuse football fans of bringing in police dogs & pepper sprays as well!!!!!
August 23rd 2012 @ 9:49pm
nordster said | August 23rd 2012 @ 9:49pm | Report comment
coppers been watching too much rugby league looking at their heavy handed, aggressive reaction. That sport, geez really should be banned…
August 23rd 2012 @ 11:28pm
Peter Wilson said | August 23rd 2012 @ 11:28pm | Report comment
Tom Smithies fled at half time because he feared for his life.
There was a firecracker lit after all.
Maybe a Bazooka with anti-tank, metal-piercing ammunition would have been more effective to get rid of the troublemaker. Or better still a force 10 atomic bomb dropped right in the middle of the King Tomislav club.
That’ll get rid of a few ethnic soccer hooligans.
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:49am
Phil said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Stop dissing on the Sydney United fans.
At least THEY can get football some publicity which is MORE than can be said for both Lowy and Buckley!
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:53am
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Comedian
August 23rd 2012 @ 5:18pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
Hold the Press this is sure to make the front page of Tomorrow’s Telegraph
FFA Announce Troublemaker Bans
FFA has responded to recent crowd trouble which has marred the 2012-13 A-League pre-season by banning two ‘fans’ for five years.
One man has been banned for igniting a flare during a Sydney FC game against the Macarthur Rams at Campbelltown Stadium last week in a game which saw one man knocked unconscious and a six-year-old boy hit with a rock.
NSW Police have confirmed further investigations will take place into the incident at Edensor Park.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/248860,ffa-announce-troublemaker-bans.aspx
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:58am
Bondy. said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:58am | Report comment
It doesnt mean anything the fine,I understand images have to be protected and responded to,but I amoslt feel half chuffed for that to be called a brawl,if anything those lunging tackles from those lads suggests to me they’ve been watching to much Rugby in the off season where most of those incidences were Rugby lunges between the Jets and Nix.
August 23rd 2012 @ 9:33am
striker said | August 23rd 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
FFA cant win, no wonder there relunctant to start a FFA CUP, who would blame them with those idiots again last night at Sydney united, they try to embrace the old NSL folk and what they do in return is cause havoc like the old days in the old NSL.no wonder this game will never reach its potential.
August 23rd 2012 @ 9:47am
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Next time some hopeful dreamer starts a topic about an FFA Cupeither here or on 442. My response will be
we (the greater football community) cant afford it. and it has nothing to do with money. Never – 22August2012 RIP-FFA Cup.
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:46pm
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
That’s a little over dramatic Kasey. I’m sure the FFA Cup will happen in the not to distant future. If there’s any serious disgretions there should be hefty fines or bans handed out to clubs who shame the game.
In the whole of Australia there a probably less than half a dozen clubs who may have suspect “high-risk” supporters. These clubs should be made aware of the consequences and should be hit with the book if they can’t police any such issues from within the club.
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:54pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
You may see it as a bit overly dramatic, but look at who we just hired to run the FFA..Mr Conservative himself. Highly qualified though he undoubtedly is. If he can control the rapists and hallway crappers of the thugby, hes odds on to survive and thrive the back stabbing at senior football admin level in this country.
Does anyone seriously think the code of football has had its reputation enhanced in any way over the last 2 weeks? I can honestly see Gallop sitting down and saying.
The top of the tree (HAL) comes first, the rest can please themselves if the WSW SU58 game is an example of how the lower tiers will view an FFA Cup..a high profile method of expressing their displeasure and general douchebaggery.
Do you think the Cro wannabe douchebags from last night give a fat rats clacker about the damage they’ve done to the image of the game?
In my ideal world, we’d get a FFA Cup next season and at the first press-conference, the FFA announce that SU58 are denied home games due to their inability to control their supporters. That’d fix their little red& white checked wagon right there
Oh the Lols.
August 23rd 2012 @ 8:53pm
Axelv said | August 23rd 2012 @ 8:53pm | Report comment
I’m not sure if you are sarcastic, but I don’t think you are. Are you seriously blaming Sydney United?
This is what happened
-Offensive banner is out, it gets confiscated.
- A fire cracker is lit, the police have 2 options
Either A: Ask the perpetrator to step out of the crowd
or B: Go in there with full force and annihilate anything that gets in your way.
Which option do you think is more rational and is more likely to keep the situation under control?
Well they chose option B, and the result? Many injured and hurt bystanders, all the blame is on the fans. ‘Soccer Violence’, how many police were injured or threatened? 0, how many fans hurt each other 0? how many fans were hurt by the police either through batons, pushing or capsicum spray, anywhere between 10-50?
August 23rd 2012 @ 11:40pm
MelbCro said | August 23rd 2012 @ 11:40pm | Report comment
You clearly have no clue what you are talking about striker. The only idiots at the game were the police thugs.
August 23rd 2012 @ 11:45pm
Peter Wilson said | August 23rd 2012 @ 11:45pm | Report comment
The biggest problem for the FFA and Gallop is the unbalanced reporting of violence at sporting venues and the re-enforcement of ethnic soccer hooligan soccer violence in the public’s perception.
As Kasey pointed out, there was much more violence, drunken behaviour and king hitting and head kicking at State of Origin 2 than at any NSL or A-League game will ever have, but it doesn’t get “Drunken rugby league hooligan violence” headlines on the front and back page of the Daily Rugby League Telegraph. The headline they CHOSE to run was “The pride of NSW downs maroons in Origin 2″.
Not even a mention of the score at last nights WSW game, like it wasn’t even a sporting contest, just a venue to pick fights with fans and police. Lucky the Daily Telegraph reporters and photographers were there to warn us of the serious life threatening dangers of attending any soccer games..
August 23rd 2012 @ 9:46am
Nathan of Perth said | August 23rd 2012 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Those Muscats, eh?
August 23rd 2012 @ 9:49am
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Muscat sent off,
just where have I heard that before?;)
August 23rd 2012 @ 2:57pm
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | August 23rd 2012 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Can’t believe the Telegraph couldn’t even be bothered to state the result of the match between Syd. Utd. and WSW or list the attendance but we certainly got to read all about the “attrocities” commited by the crowd.
Maybe that’s because Smithies left at half-time. So what were you at the game for Smithies? A special assignment perhaps?
Couldn’t be bothered with the second half eh? And that’s what you call a football (sorry soccer…you work for the Tele) writer.
August 23rd 2012 @ 3:11pm
Stevo said | August 23rd 2012 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Maybe he threw the first stone to get the headline happening coz it was a booooring sokha game
August 23rd 2012 @ 3:31pm
Kasey said | August 23rd 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
I get what you’re trying to say, that we football fans are too quick to believe that there’s a conspiracy against football in the MainStream media, but what are we supposed to think when you read tweets like that one above from the director of Sport at the Telegraph?
IMO There was absolutely nothing professional and measured about the Telegraph’s coverage of the incident.
August 23rd 2012 @ 4:32pm
Stevo said | August 23rd 2012 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
I was actually typing this out with my tongue firmly in my cheek !! But I believe that some ‘professional’ writers are pretty happy to turn a mole hill into a mountain – when it suits their ‘world view’. cheers
August 23rd 2012 @ 7:56pm
MV Dave said | August 23rd 2012 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
Yep the numb nuts have put back any chance of the FFA Cup for a few more seasons…it only takes a handful but don’t the mainstream media love to stick the boots into Sokkah!
August 23rd 2012 @ 11:53pm
Peter Wilson said | August 23rd 2012 @ 11:53pm | Report comment
In both incidents none of the troublemakers were fans of an A-League club.
Starting an A-League team in west Sydney is an opportunity and a threat, because of the links with old soccer.
This is not a Sydney United or a Croatian problem – the vast majority of fans were very well behaved and appreciated the good football that was played for a pre-season friendly.
Its just a very small minority that has ruined it for the rest of us, the FFA and gallop and the A-League.
But it is a very small minority, so on the plus side it should not be a massive effort to find them out and keep them away from football matches Mr Gallop.