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In football, the saying that no player or manager is bigger than the club is often thrown about. It is a legitimate argument, however it should also be attributed to the fans.
Without the fans there would be no football in its current guise. They are the lifeblood of the club. Yet without football, what becomes of the fans?
Yesterday, Football Federation Australia handed the Western Sydney Wanderers a $50,000 fine and suspended three-point penalty as a result of the club’s away supporters letting off a number of flares during a visit to Melbourne.
More football:
» Wanderers will become top dogs, but mischief makers must pull their heads in
» Wanderers guilty: Fined $50,000 and docked three competition points
» FFA talking tough could be rough for Wanderers
» It’s time for A-League supporters to unite against flares
» A-League fans have shot themselves in the foot
The punishment did not go far enough, or was at least misdirected, it seems.
The Red and Black Bloc’s response to the sanctions was nothing short of despicable.
“The RBB does not encourage anyone to participate in any prohibited activity, and those who have, have done so at their own risk. The consequences are known to all. The RBB supports the notion of personal choice as per our representation at the senate hearing late last year,” a Facebook statement read.
“It was agreed that flare use has been prevalent in Australia before the Wanderers came along and is not an issue that is unique to us,” the statement continued.
“The incident at Melbourne over the weekend led to the general consensus on the night that this issue has been exacerbated in the media, and that if it was not flare use, the Wanderers fan-base would have been targeted over other issues.”
Ich kann nicht mehr…
I love the RBB, what they have brought to the A-League has pushed other club’s active support to new levels. The vibrancy, colour and passion that has emerged from nothing is a fantastic story. That story is one of the drawcards for Australian football.
Watching them in action live – as a sideshow mind you, not the main event – is a pleasure.
Yet their insistence on playing the victim card is getting old. And judging by the majority of replies on their Facebook post, many football fans share that sentiment.
The perpetrators last weekend were in a minority. They can only be branded narcissistic fools more concerned with their own rep in the ultra world than the club they claim to support.
However, more disappointing has been the RBB leadership’s response, even though it was sadly predictable. Despite widespread condemnation from their own support base at the use of flares last weekend, they failed to take a huge opportunity to make a stand for the good of the game.
Their statement at best claimed indifference to flare use, at worst sneakily condoned them.
Flares have no place in Australian football. Not because anyone is trying to Anglicise the game, not because football fans give a shit about the mainstream media seeing sense, not because we need to grovel at the feet of the neutrals who have not yet discovered the beautiful game.
Flares are illegal outside maritime use, it is pretty simple.
And their use is only going to hurt A-League clubs, which means those who continue ripping have little pride in their own team.
The FFA imposed a suspended three-point penalty, though perhaps they should have carried out the initial threat and actually docked points, because it has not had the desired effect.
A more fitting punishment would have been to ban away support from the Wanderers’ next trip away from Wanderland, or to close the RBB for one or more home fixtures. As it stands the club has lost out, not the fans, and the leadership of the RBB appears disinterested.
This is not a problem solely attributed to the Wanderers, it is a double standard that the FFA did not also impose a punishment for the flare let off in the Victory support last weekend. These sanctions must be handed out for every flare incident in order to remain credible.
But hopefully the majority of Western Sydney fans have come to the realisation that the flare element has to be extinguished. Continued use will only harm the game.
The RBB has been beyond fantastic for this fledgling league. They have passionately represented Australian football internationally during the club’s amazing run in the Asian Champions League and they are a facet of our sport all fans should be proud of.
Yet that pride is starting to turn into embarrassment. This rogue element is not necessary.
And all the RBB’s statement has shown is that the current leadership is unwilling to self-police the minority thug element that is creeping into their support base. It is extremely disappointing.
In the same statement, they also noted the date for the FFA’s decision on reviewing the banning process and the possible introduction of an appeals system.
The looming date is February 19, the Sydney derby is the next day on February 20.
RBB’s leadership made it clear they would boycott the game if their demands from last year are not met, but how many fans will stand by them after this debacle?
Active support had the backing of the majority late last year, but they may now be pushing a very shaky line.
A good relationship between FFA and active support, developing a degree of respect and trust, should be the wish of every stakeholder. Yet both parties must meet in the middle, it can not be a one-way street.
Complain about rising ticket prices (A-League general admission is more than a Bundesliga equivalent), you have our support, fight over heavy-handed, draconian security, we’re on board.
But fail to address the illegal misuse of flares and expect unwavering support in return? You’re having a laugh.
The RBB is losing credibility, and it must realise that. Australian football fans have supported them during the active support stoush with the FFA, but their response to the recent sanctions for flare use – which has harmed the club, not the wannabe ultras – was piss weak.
No one is singing with you on this one, RBB, not even the majority of your own fans.
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