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The A-League’s active support went to extreme measures to have their voices heard over the FFA’s much-maligned banning process, yet now they must unite again to condemn minorities who continue to tarnish the game’s reputation.
From holding a position of indifference to flares, having witnessed their beauty at European football games, seeing smoke billowing across Docklands Stadium on Saturday night was infuriating.
The biggest disruption came in the 12th minute when a number of ripped flares forced referee Ben Williams to call a halt to the Western Sydney Wanderers’ visit to Melbourne Victory.
The Wanderers had been on top at that point, yet following the restart Victory took the lead through Besart Berisha. Were those the actions of true fans? Disrupting their team’s flow to allow the opposition a chance to regroup and hit back almost immediately?
Australia has decided it will not stand with parts of Europe and South America in accepting flares at football games, and that must be respected.
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Considering the FFA will meet in just weeks with the intention to review their banning process, with the possibility of introducing an appeals avenue, the events from Saturday’s game is mind-boggling.
Many of the 190-odd fans were blacklisted for allegedly committing flare offences and the latest use of pyro has undermined the fan protests from last year.
This was clear provocation, executed by football ‘fans’ with little regard for the game they supposedly love and their fellow supporters.
Football, all sports for that matter, will always contain a dickhead element. But it is time for the A-League’s supporter groups to unite in their disdain for such unsavoury characters. They campaigned for the FFA to hear their grievances, now they must show they deserve to be treated as joint stakeholders.
Coverage of the latest flare usage is not another media beat-up, the topic is entirely relevant given the proximity of the FFA’s upcoming general meeting.
And, yes, there were more than 80 evictions at the Sydney Sevens across the weekend. Worse than a few flares, definitely, but it is not of football fans’ concern.
Maintaining our own game’s reputation is all that matters.
There appeared to be no evictions following the flare frenzy, yet FFA chief executive David Gallop made it clear sanctions would be handed out under the previous policy.
“The behaviour of some fans and in particular a section of the Western Sydney Wanderers fans at last night’s match was unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Gallop said.
“FFA is currently compiling all reports from Victorian Police, stadium security and both clubs before deciding what action to take.
“This is a clear reminder of the type of people we do not want in our game and that will be reflected in the final outcomes of our inquiries.”
What was most galling about the recent episode was the apparent lack of self-policing from the RBB, as well as the gloating from some members on social media following the match. That is at the root of the problem and the roadblock to any future resolution.
And it is not just the RBB, either, but all supporter groups. The majority of the crowd at Docklands booed when the flares were ripped, yet a minority of the home support were also guilty of setting their own pyro off.
In this current period of controversy, lighting flares can only be perceived as attention-seeking bollocks. A minority has undermined the efforts of all ten active supporter groups who fought to overturn the FFA’s draconian banning measures.
At the moment, their silence is disappointing. Condemn the culprits and ensure they are ostracised from the game, otherwise any credibility once attained will evaporate.
It is not solely the FFA’s job to maintain harmony in Australian football, the governing body needs the assistance and cooperation of the supporters who claim to love the game.
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