Wellington Phoenix fans have voiced their strong support for A-League boycotts from other supporter groups but say they can’t join in due to the New Zealand club’s ongoing licence saga.
Sydney FC’s The Cove and Western Sydney’s Red and Black Bloc are set to stay away from A-League matches this weekend, and more are expected to follow after Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop’s remarks on Tuesday worsened tensions between the governing body and active soccer supporters.
David Cross, a spokesman for the Yellow Fever, said the boycott has the “full backing” of Phoenix supporters, accusing FFA of acting above the law and playing it “fast and loose” with the truth over appeals processes for banned fans.
But Cross said the Yellow Fever is unable to follow suit due to Wellington’s uncertain tenure in the A-League, with their licence agreement set to expire at the end of the current season.
“With such a strong push from the FFA against our club’s licence extension we feel continuing our fight against that decision is a priority for the Wellington Phoenix fans at this time,” Cross said.
“Fighting to ensure the treatment of the league’s fans is fair and reasonable and is important to us all but will not mean much if we no longer have a club to support.”
There is no sign yet from the Phoenix’s ownership group, Welnix, if they will take up a four-year licence extension offered by FFA or pull their funding, which would see the club wound up.
Wellington play ladder leaders Melbourne Victory on Saturday at QBE Stadium in Auckland.
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