The A-League doesn't care about active fans

You know several people who will be getting memberships for both clubs. How many of those are active supporters? There will be 2 significant sets of active support at this game. Which is why, I would think, the game would be classified as high risk according to the powers that be. Its got nothing to do with the everyone else who will be at the game.

MV v MH is not a risky game. They are the same supporters. I know several people who will be getting memberships to both clubs this season. It's not like Sydney where you have the westies v the "latte sippers." Adelaide v MV , SFC v Newcastle and SFC v Mariners could be risky games. Unfortunately the FFA has to live with the sports history where minor incidents between Croatian and Serbian fans and and Greek and Macedonian fans were reported in the Melbourne Sun and Herald and Sydney daily telegraph, as if World War III was declared. That's why the FFA are over sensitive. Unfortunately the tabloid editors believe that violence at football is news yet violence at cricket matches is not news.

i think we all agree, anyone who lights a flare is two sandwiches short of a lunchpack, in reality the ffa seems to be trying to appeal to the afl, rugby fan by making them feel at home, comfortable. Yet they take away the spectacle and fun of being a football fan, ever been to a bundesliga match and its as fun being a supporter as a player. ps - i like fink, best blogger on twg.

I'm all for active support and allowing flags, instruments, profanity, pullovers and flexible seating. But once you start talking about "flares" I think your understimating the damage an incident could cause to football and overestimating their importance to providing atmosphere. That's when you start losing people from your position, I think the active supporter groups should just suck it up that flares are a no go (and where it's probably 50/50 amongst fans at the very best) and concentrate on the other things like flexible seating which are probably more important and have the support of possibly 100% of fans. A lot of fans can see the potential damage of teens with flares so then become sympathetic to the FFA even though on the balance of things we would normaly be on your side. It's like the general public agree with 9 out of 10 of your policies but that 1 issue is a real deal breaker. Get rid of the flares without the need for those FFA goons and then Hamoto or whatever their called will be labelled a waste of money. getting the mix right with active support so it's an overwhelming positive would be a great competitive advantage for football...... doesn't need flares for this to happen.

You can equally say that family support etc by itself is not enough to maintain a top level competition unfortunately. The other sports are a bit different to football/soccer, they have certain competitive advantages, the culture of football/soccer support is a point of difference/"brand differentiation", which is what they seem to be harping on about in the ads, but while they are trying to spruik and utilise this aspect they are also trying to stifle and undermine it in other ways, which ironically diminishes this "brand differentiation". Ultimately it is a good mix of the two that is the optimum solution, not treating one like crap because they are deemed to be a threat to another. It would have been more proper for the FFA to hire people who could advise on how to facilitate the two aspects harmoniously, instead they just seem to have gone for people who are completely innapropriate Which brings me another point, ostracising and alienating fans who can have an influence is stupid policy because it then means they are less inclined to actively suppress anyone being stupid and stopping a situation escalating to the point where they may end up throwing a flare at someone or something Look at the crowd figures that have dwindled and are gathering momentum in a downward spiral which FFA policy devised by non-football people has irnonically facilitated, if that is not arrested it is "game over"

Ironically their solution of basically choking active support and over sanitisation of the league to the point where it's becoming boring, plastic and soulless, plus increasingly excessive penalties for minor infringements which just pushes already committed fans away (and hence discourages them from brining half interested associates along via word of mouth) will ruin the A League more surely than the occasional media beat up or flare under a banner Professional leagues have survived in Australia without active support. A serious injury to an innocent spectator from a flare would (however unfairly) most likely be game over for the a league on a lot of levels. We could kiss good by to all the family attendance and sponsorship. The hardocre support by itself is not enough to maintain a top level competition unfortuantely.

Good article Mike, One of the issues here for me is that this consultancy firm only seem to be able to think in terms of regulatory measures such as over the top penalties, because given their lack of any career experience in football and with football fans they can't think of any proper ideas to produce a climate at games where they are vibrant but there is a low risk of anything developing past early stages of the escalation cycle Which brings me to another point, why did the FFA hire them in the first point given their lack of any background in football? If people look back there was no constructive consultation or engagement with fan groups to try and reduce problems (many of which were a beat up) post season 3, Seems the FFA "suits" or whatever people want to call them are merely concerned with the idea that active fans are bad people and a risk because of the capacity for bad TV images. Let's just forget the fact they are ominous in their silence when this rubbish gets put on TV. Ironically their solution of basically choking active support and over sanitisation of the league to the point where it's becoming boring, plastic and soulless, plus increasingly excessive penalties for minor infringements which just pushes already committed fans away (and hence discourages them from brining half interested associates along via word of mouth) will ruin the A League more surely than the occasional media beat up or flare under a banner For a start, the FFA should have gotten advisors who can advise police and security on how to position and deploy in reference to collectively minded crowds, and then how to engage with these collectively minded crowds in such a way that reduces the capacity for conflict, but the opposite seems to happen. Not to mention people who can engage with fans in such a way to encourage vibrant and creative culture while trying to encourage a non destructive form of it (dispel prankish aspects. Ironically the result of treating fans condascendingly means they don't give a sh&t as much so to speak when they see someone acting stupid because they are marginalised One last point, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed the irony that Melbourne fans get labeled whingers, yet when the Cove finally get lumped with the same crap that fans everywhere else have to put up with, they do exactly the same thing. The only difference though is that they seem to have mates like Fink to write ESPN article for them of course whereas fans in other cities don't quite have the same luxury. Not to mention the difference responsiveness from the FFA but generally it is good if a fans group has started to get something

Sounds like that Brazilian mate of yours is a good bloke! :) Boo Inter indeed. It's always good fun to single someone out from the opposition and heckle them. Mind you, my wife and I have also heckled Reinaldo at the Roar on more than one occasion. The most un-Brazilian Brazilian you will see. How the hell is he still playing here? First touch of a bouncer breaking up a fight (I usually use another, more 'R' rated analogy), not much chop on the dribble, and none of his flicks and "clever" touches come off, with the obvious exception of his goal vs Sydney in the second leg of that semi-final a few years ago. That was a great goal, but the only one I've ever seen where he has actually lived up to the hype. I am always waiting for him to prove me wrong.

Ha ha, I took my Brazilian mate to See Sydney FC play Persik Kaderi in the ACL. Persik had a Brazilian player named Fernando in their team and my mate was yelling stuff at him in Portuguese and people around me were laughing. When I asked my mate what he was saying he grinned and said "Go home Fernando" By the way, he is from Porto Alegre and a massive Gremio fan, Boo Inter!

The last couple of times I went to Suncorp to watch the Roar, my wife and I were nearly kicked out because we were swearing at the players who kept screwing up (typical of the Roar last season, sadly, so I couldn't tell you which players I was singling out - they were all pretty crap, except Tommy Oar). Security at Suncorp is heavy handed outside the active support areas, and it really drives me mad. It's that librarian thing you referred to, Andyroo. The security guy said it was because there were "kids nearby" and that such language was inappropriate. We looked around, and the closest kid was two or three bays over. So whenever we go now, my wife and I just swear in Portuguese, which is also fun. We had a real red-hot go at the Gold Coast United Brazilians in the final game between those teams at Suncorp last season. I'm not sure whether it was Robson or Anderson who was on our side of the pitch, but boy did he cop a pasting from us. He looked up a couple of times too, to see where the vitriol was coming from!! Good times... :)

Im one of those librarians to these days Andyroo. I watch and analise the game from the side lines. The active supporters do make things happen no matter if there is action on the field or not.....its good news that SBS TWG is moving to Monday nights, so now they can break down all the weekend games. Small steps forward, but slowly we getting there.

Mr. My team is Sydney FC. I do go to Roar games and try to get to GCU games as much as possible, but originally from the South. Never the less i still hope Ange does well. Really looking forward to Nicky in the blue this year. Keep up the fantastic work at the Cove.

there are non-alcohol sections!?! Damn.

My experience to yours is very different. I guess that's a result of the hard work put in by SFC Cove to improve the match day experience. Good luck with Ange this season and I might see you up there.

im in Brisbane Mr. Suncorp is very controlled. Bay 332 behind the goals the only supporters bay. Beat a drum one seat over and you will get asked to move. ive seen this a few times. Dont try and stand either, youll be quickly asked to take your seat. I was asked to close my umbrella, on a rainy night with no one around me. rules are rules and we just except them, even if it dosnt make sense. I was threatened to be kicked out, if i did once more.

Cpaa, credit too the active support for their part but I never sit there (as I normally take Andyroo junior with me to the football). I also attend rugby league matches and have done since I was a tot and have no problem with the atmosphere at those games despite it mainly being people seated and a lack of active support. Their is one thing lacking at Bne Roar games though and that's fans that knowthe players names. No mattter where you sit at the league their will be someone shouting abuse or praising certain players. At the Roar games last year I often felt that very few people I was sitting near would know who Tommy Oar was and maybe even Craig Moore! Perhaps the effect of putting all the active supporters together leaves just the librarians arround the rest of the ground or the general public need more FTA A league exposure. Or could just be the non alcohol sections suck.

MV have 2 large and separate supporter groups located at either end ie North end/south end chant. Away supporters are located in one corner of the stadium for MV home games (think up to 400-500 spaces). The derby and SFC, AU home games are at ES. No doubt when MH host MV at AAMI MV supporters will be given one end at least.

All good posts,except Harveys, which may give me nightmares. Are you (Cpaaa) suggesting they should inspect flares and allow those on your safe list ? my answer is no. The exciting thing about it, is partly because they are banned. Its a sign of rebellion. Without rebellion there is control. A-League fans are controlled. I have chosen to talk about the flare, the only devise that comes close to be classed as a health and safety issue. Everything else is fine...yes. Apparently Not, its that which is killing the atmosphere. Football is a world game, so for one moment think about how Australian crowds are compared to what you see overseas..... A-League fans would have to be one of the worlds best behaved, YET, YET in stadiums they are treated like second class citizens in a controlled environment of a few seats. The more police and security get involved, the worse it looks on the game and drives fans away. the more you allow fans to do what they please, the more they will be looking to having a great time, great for the fans, and wonderful for the game. My vision of the A-League is that we do not breed hooligans. Unlike parts of Europe, where fists and bats were once considered which firm is the tuffest. we dont have that kind of hate over here. In Australia and ASIA, it is the group of fans that can cheer the loudest, the most flag barers and singing in harmony that will rule the roost of Asia. We dont have to have the best quality of football on the field as long as we make up for it in the stands. I am not going to convince anyone about flares. I see it as that little pimple that may pop up from time 2 time and to just tolerate it. I see that Art is right in his statement above. But if fans are given too many rules of how and not to support their teams, then i say.....lite it up.

Both ends? Any idea where the away bay will be located. Where will Heart be for the derby?

Well said