Do you go to A-League matches? Ever heard of ‘Hatamoto?’ No, it’s not a Manga cartoon or some new form of Japanese art. But maybe you should know about them, considering that you may be filmed or observed by their employees.
Hatamoto has been engaged for some time now by the FFA to provide “in house security management support.”
Shadowy Hatamoto staff are present amongst fans to collect information. They are now known to fans as the “cargo pants wearing, black polo sporting posse.”
The names of the people running Hatamoto are on the website for all to see.
It wasn’t difficult for enterprising Melbourne fans to find them on Facebook and match their profile photos with the aforementioned cargo wearing gentleman (so much for ‘security’).
They are starting to get known, not only in the grounds, but also in places like pubs, or in pre-game marches. Some fans think that they may build files about some people.
Apparently one fan was startled when one of these Hatamoto characters addressed him by his first name, considering he had never met this person before.
In Adelaide last Friday, one fan caught them on his mobile phone filming Melbourne supporters watching the match.
Scrolling down the blurb in the Hatamoto website shows probably why this has been done: “We understand the complexity and scope of such events can provide all facets of the security management required including assisting our clients to minimise the impact that poor media exposure can have on their brand and consequently the event”.
I can understand the FFA point of view, to some extent.
Football has had a pretty bad rap in the past. Also, the fact that many in the media either don’t care about football or are actively working for competing codes makes the ‘image’ of football in Australia a crucial part of whether the game succeeds.
And I want it to succeed.
However, I do wonder whether the FFA is going about it the wrong way.
The FFA can’t have their cake and eat it too. If they want colour, movement and lots of noise picked up by Foxtel mikes, they have to live with an autonomous group which is outside their control.
More worryingly, engaging these sort of ‘terrorist consultants’ betray a certain lack of knowledge about football.
One way that football can create a unique ‘brand,’ as they call it, is through the way the sport is supported. If you force football support to become a carbon copy of other codes, it will lose a lot of its shine and attractiveness.
Instead of engaging something like Hatamoto, and have these individuals in the shadows at matches, it would be better if the FFA actively engaged with fans and started a dialogue.
It is not guaranteed that everything will be always hunky dory, as inevitably in any crowd there will be some who are determined to create mischief. But I think it will reduce the amount of behaviour that is seen as problematic if active fans don’t go into the ground already thinking that they are seen as a problem.
Ryan Steele
Roar Pro
Regarding the comments about Aleks; in all fairness to him, he's not actually the spokesperson for the Red Army/Adelaide United Supporters Group. As for the crowds, it's a serious problem, when there are the small few bad eggs that give everyone else a poor reputation. I have a love/hate relationship with any Adelaide - Melbourne fixtures, for that reason. The games are great, because of the rivalry, the build-up is fantastic, but while a lot of supporters are good to talk with (having met/known several), there are always those that are out to cause trouble. For both sides, at that. The small few Melbourne supporters that I spoke with, after that game, were shocked that their own supporters could be the way they were, that night. In those games, I always expect flares in the stadium, particularly from the Melbourne end, even though they're not allowed in the stadium, and I'm pretty much over it. It's all well and good that those select few people like flares, but in the instances they've thrown them on the ground, and at players/supporters, it just becomes too much. I've seen discussion about Hatamoto from certain supporters, in the past, but haven't given it much attention. I personally don't see it as a way to eliminate colour, but just to find a way to contain the problem supporters. If it means finding out who those people are, then so be it. The A-League is as much for families as it is for individuals.
Simmo
Guest
according to Richard Hinds in the SMH. I remember the article.
jimbo
Guest
These people operate in all venues - stadiums, pubs, clubs, 21st parties, whatever and are there for everyones benefit as long as you're not out to hurt others. Football fans pay their money and are entitled to have fun and generally very well behaved and we have no problem letting off steam and enjoying ourselves. Just a precaution in all parts of society for the very small majority who go to these venues with other intentions and their anti-social idea of fun. I wish there were more of them at cricket and NRL games I've been to, to deal with some of the drunken idiots we've had to confront over the years.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
I wasn't trying to dsicredit Mike's article at all, I thought it was a well written piece in fact. I merely stated that Aleks wouldn't be my choice to represent fans at the FFA
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Actually, I vaguely recall him saying that he had played aussie rules at some point during his life. But on this occasion, he led the noisiest, largest, most menacing gathering ever assembled, perhaps bigger than all the Vietnam protests combined.
DiCanio
Guest
clubs liase with their supporters, ffa liases with clubs this is your dialogue This spook nonsense is out of order. Time to form the anti-spook brigade and start keeping tabs on this lot and creating our own set of files. FFA I am disappointed
md
Guest
I didn't know that Willing played for Footscray.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Although, let us not forget that Ben Willing himself earned some notoriety for leading a rabble through the streets of Melbourne a few years back!!
md
Guest
Admittedly all you Victory fans are a bunch of dodgy so and so's that need constant watching. I wouldn't trust any of you with as much as a half-drunk schooner of light beer, frankly. I mean Ben Buckley would know what's needed - he's Victorian after all. That aside, I think we should get to know our spooks. Maybe interview them. A day in the life of an A-league spook would be a good Roar column! A photo with a couple of them and perhaps even BB himself. Great work Gweeds. Cheers md
Midfielder
Guest
Hi All Will not be posting for a while... in getting ready for the World Masters I over did it a bit a few weeks back ... To fully recover for the games I need to take all stress off certain parts of my back... meaning sitting in front of a computer screen and typing... So essential work only .. and read computer screen in a standing position... so I will keep reading and return when I can.. I have an article I will be sending in today on the future media ... but will hardly respond... hope you enjoy it..
Midfielder
Guest
Gweeds Can not post to much ... see my next post to all.. But in very simple terms I believe that the FFA & HE need to sit down together and agree on a acceptable code of behaviour ... This code then be made public for all media organisations and people coming to football matches so as they know what to expect ... takes a lot of head out of the problem ...
Robbos
Guest
Redb, I think it's the fans who add atmosphere, not to provide entertainment. If you are unsure what I'm talking about. go & watch a boxing day test between Australia v Sth Africa & then watch a boxing day test between England v Australia with the barmy army. Same sport, different atmosphere.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Sound like they were there to keep them company.
Robbos
Guest
Funny I agree with most of what Craig Foster says. I once could name the complete English team that won the 1966 WC & thought them the best team ever, but then I found out the rest of the world played football too.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I've never come across a problem at the Dome - with either Aussie rules or soccer. In fact, one time I saw a game with redb, against Perth last season (when we hammered them 4-0). One of the funniest things we saw was the visiting supporters section, with about six Perth fans, and about ten policemen surroudning them!! I'm not sure if they were there to make sure they behaved themselves or to make sure they weren't targeted by anyone. They looked pretty harmless to me.
Gweeds
Guest
And I speak from experience too. I've gone to many A-League matches in Melbourne (and one in Adelaide) with my 10 year old (and when he was younger) and in the 'South end' supporters area and never had any problems. In fact the scariest thing he saw were the riot police and their truncheons.
Redb
Roar Guru
Yes I think futbol fans take themselves way too seriously. Enjoy the game, watch it, Zaharkis !!!! :-) Redb
David V.
Guest
Sorry for the repeat- the comment didn't show right away so I assumed it didn't get through :?
Killer_Tomatoes
Guest
Pimply kids? Hardly in the case of Melbourne. Most of the 'fan representatives' from both the North and South End's and from the wings, who have dealt with the club, VicPol and the FFA before are over 30 (some over 50) and are all full time professionals working in respectable positions. Hardly petulant teenagers. As for the percentage the 'supporters groups' make up of total membership, that would probably be closer to 1% Pip, but, those groups do as you say represent possibly close to 10% of total club members. Yes, you may get messages from Ben Buckley (highly doubtful actually written by himself), but he's made it abundantly clear that he has no interest in listening to your respsonse. "The FFA will not be dictated to by fans" is a quote that comes to mind.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Redb - I never lose my sense of humour. This a serious issue - unlike the code war nonsense where people get all worked up over nothing and you have to take the big humour stick out to teach them a lesson. To you other point - The sport of football is exciting enough as it is. The difference with other forms is that passionate football fans see themselves as participants not spectators. They do everything they can to help the team win the game. Everywhere you go around the world - people express this differently - be it playing music, dancing, chanting, singing. They can go to the pictures if they want to be theatregoers or maybe even an AFL game. Oops - there I was being funny again :)