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Facing possible loss of competition points, A-League leaders Western Sydney Wanderers say they are searching for ways to better prevent fans blackening the club’s reputation at away games.
Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said on Tuesday the club had largely eliminated problems at their home games where only members could enter the Red and Black Bloc (RBB) section.
But away games remained an issue because any member of the public could buy tickets for the designated supporters bays.
The Wanderers were handed a show cause notice from Football Federation Australia (FFA) on Monday after flares were let off in their supporters’ bay during the clash with Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
“These incidents have started to happen because we have instituted a program … which limits the number of incidents at home,” Tsatsimas told the Big Sports Breakfast.
“Non-members are now finding opportunities to get into venues that aren’t Pirtek Stadium, and that’s where the complications and the issues arise.
“It was profound on the weekend and we are concerned and we need to do something about it.”
Tsatsimas suggested the measures implemented at Pirtek stadium, which include all non-RBB members being forced to sit in allocated seating, would be included as part of their response to the FFA.
The most recent ugly scenes at Pirtek Stadium came in the 2014 Asian Champions League match against Ulsan Hyundai, where multiple flares were ignited.
On that occasion, the match was run by the Asian Football Confederation, and not the club, meaning seating restrictions were not in place.
The upcoming February 20 Sydney derby at Allianz Stadium also stands at risk of incident, with the club’s supporter bays again open for anyone to buy tickets to enter.
Tsatsimas says the club are now working towards stronger communication with away venues to avoid a repeat of Saturday night’s ugly scenes.
“It was certainly narcissism on display, it’s the only way I can describe it. We are committed to eradicating that from our club,” he said.
“There’s an element there that on the weekend demonstrated a flagrant exhibition of petulance, belligerence and rebelliousness that won’t be accepted.”
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