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FFA slaps Victory with reprimand for derby day flare

Australian Football needs to tell it's own story, because the one others tell isn't good enough (AAP Image/David Crosling)
18th October, 2016
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The FFA has handed down its punishment to the Melbourne Victory after one of the club’s fans lit a flare during the side’s 4-1 derby loss against Melbourne City on Saturday night.

The organisation decided to issue the club with an official reprimand rather than a suspended points penalty, the likes of which was given to the Western Sydney Wanderers.

The Victory have accepted the decision without appeal.

The FFA took into account the behaviour of Victory fans who dobbed in the flare-lighter, saying the vigilance of fans played a role in the severity – or lack thereof – of the punishment

“In making the determination, FFA has placed considerable significance on the Melbourne Victory supporters who voiced their displeasure and then helped identify the perpetrator, who was removed from the stadium and will go through the FFA Banning Process. This behaviour is refreshing,” said the head of the A-League, Greg O’Rourke.

O’Rourke said there was a significant difference between the incident at the Melbourne derby and the Sydney derby, hence the difference in punishments.

“We look at all incidents on a case by case basis and take into consideration the totality of the situation and behaviours and we noted some clear distinctions from the incidents last week at the Sydney Derby.

“FFA recognises that the self-policing by the Melbourne Victory fans is yet another positive step and a strong public statement that fans, clubs and the wider football family were united in saying flares are not acceptable and show disloyalty to their club.

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“In issuing the reprimand FFA is warning all clubs of the need to stay vigilant. The collective focus of FFA, clubs, players and true football fans is to work together to eliminate all forms of anti-social behaviour, including flares.”

While the Victory did not suffer the ignominy of having points deducted from their meagre early-season total – the Melbourne-based club have just the single point from their opening two A-League games so far this season – O’Rourke made sure to warn fans that lighting flares could cost their team points in the future.

“We need to be clear that a recurrence of the incident where flares are ignited in the Melbourne Victory fans area may leave FFA with no alternative other than to deduct points from the club.”

The incident was the second time in as many rounds where flares have caused controversy in the 2016-17 A-League season. Following the Round 1 Sydney derby, the Western Sydney Wanderers came under scrutiny after a number of flares were ignited in the active fans area during the game.

The FFA’s response was to extend the club’s suspended three-point deduction. The threat of the points deduction was already in place after around 20 flares were ignited during a Wanderers away game against Melbourne City in February of this year.

It was originally meant to expire in February, but will now run until the end of the season

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