Sydney’s ‘Festival of Football’ started off with a bang – on the pitch, at least – as Greek giants AEK slammed five past Sydney FC goalkeeper Ivan Necevski in an entertaining 5-3 victory.
Nevertheless, the Sydney supporter group – The Cove – were in fine voice throughout, no doubt owing to Football Federation Australia’s decision to overturn a hastily convened ban on banner pullovers at so-called “high risk” A-League games.
The ban would have meant that colourful banners could not be unfurled in games against Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart, at least in part due to the potential danger posed by fans lighting flares underneath flammable material.
The anger surrounding the short-lived decision was not based on the inherent health and safety issues involved, but rather the fact that the decision was made without consulting fans.
However, given that some A-League fans continue to take it upon themselves to rip flares inside A-League stadia – against the clear wishes of a vocal majority – the FFA have ready ammunition to simply ignore the vast majority of supporters due to the actions of a few.
To the eternal frustration of many, certain individuals continue to push the line that flares are an acceptable feature of the A-League landscape.
They are not – and it’s those who act according to their own agenda rather than within the interests of the greater football community who do the most damage to relations between FFA officials and law-abiding fans.
I’ve seen flares in action – Croatian supporters seemed to smuggle them in by the dozens for the critical World Cup clash against Australia in 2006 – and while some would argue that the use of what is essentially a maritime distress signal adds to the spectacle, my view is that they’re a totally unnecessary feature of the game.
Those who insist that lighting flares adds to the occasion tend to be the last to consider that many inside the ground find them to be little more than a annoying distraction, and that’s to say nothing of those forced to suffer the nasty side effects of inhaling acrid smoke.
Then there’s the link between the kind of crowd disturbances which once marred certain games of “old soccer” and the FFA’s desperate attempts to distance themselves with a clean-cut brand of “new football.”
I’ve seen flares used as weapons by Feyenoord supporters and it’s not a pretty sight, especially when young children and families around are simply trying to enjoy a day out at the football.
As hasty as A-League officials can be to dismiss the value of fans, you can almost understand their reluctance to engage with supporters when a small minority seem hell-bent on using the competition to indulge in their own pyromaniacal fantasies.
The practice merely gives credence to the use of private security consultants like Hatamoto, and it tarnishes the image of a competition that many are desperate to see succeed.
Ripping flares might be common practice in the likes of Greek and Polish football, but there’s no need to import the phenomenon here.
Use the Bundesliga as a template if we must, with active support at its most vociferous in Germany without the unnecessary use of pyrotechnics.
There’s no place for flares in the A-League, and I can only condemn those who believe that there are.
Let’s hope that the distress signals are left on the tin dinghy for the forthcoming season, and we can make the A-League a competition to remember for its creative, colourful and above all flare-free support.
flares4life
Guest
Watch this and tell me that flares aren't adding to the spectacle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOIqy1mxXaU
BigAl
Guest
. . . . . why not consider then random firing of machine guns into the air ! . . . tha's considered a bit of a hoot in some places.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I take note of all comments. This is intended to be an interactive experience!
Pete
Guest
I think many dont appreciate flares only because they associate it with hooliganism and rioting in europe & sth america - fair enough. Though here in Australia where we have a decent standard of living, we dont devote 100% of our lives to our teams like many poorer fans do overseas. Thats why we dont throw rocks & coins at cops and opposition players & fans. We are civilised. Im sure if flares were allowed and there was no crowd violence that the atmosphere would have greater appeal. If it didnt work then it would evolve naturally out of the game. The way it is now, 1 flare is lit then 100 cops & security guards come running in pushing and arresting fans and then all of a sudden that becomes "a riot" in all media outlets around Australia. Flares do work well along with singing, drums, horns, banners, flags especially when a team enters and when a goal is scored. PS - i do agree and would prefer the German Bundesliga approach here and YES i do travel overseas to experience great football atmospheres. I just would like some more atmosphere here in our stadiums.
gregscavator
Guest
Flares were common at football grounds during the 70's but fortunatley along with body shirts and platform shoes went out of fashion.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I don't want to play devils advoate too much I think the % of female fans at an Australian sporting event seems higher than in Europe. I am sure their are plenty that like flares, but I don't think it goes down that well with the mums.... and they are important. if flares added a LOT to a football game I would argue for them but in this case I don't htink their worth it. Edit: I gave you the thumbs up for a pretty funny post Fussball
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
AndyRoo - Got to say ... .. if males decided to restrict their behaviour and not partake in activities that "a large % of women just think is stupid" ... ... well, it wouldn't be worth getting out of bed in the morning and FGL shares would immediately dive! Additionally, sales of PlayStation would plummet and, of course, the 2 most profitable "Internet industries" would be out of business! :-)
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Theirs also the fact a large % of women just think their stupid.
Rob
Guest
The main problem with flares are that they scare non fussbal folk into a xenophobic terror...and FFA dont want to invite back all the old excuses from the mainstream media. I have a couple of mates who carry on about flares as if they were cluster bombs.
Dylan
Guest
Well I am only 19, 20 next month. My birthday happens to fall 1 day before the Jets 1st home game against the heart. Now I could go rip a flare in the squadron but I have enough common sense not too. I don't have an issue with flares, only if they were thrown. Why cant stadium management at games introduce firework pyrotechnics, that way it keeps fans safe & makes all party's happy. The nrl do some pretty good firework pyrotechnics at big games, the a-league needs to follow suit to minimise flare usage.
Colin N
Guest
"Although many will not agree with me, I can only wish to see such scenes, chaos and passion at an A-League game in the future.To be honest, I think scenes like this would attract more fans to an A-League game!" It depends. I went to Roma v Lazio in 2002 and was entangled in a full scale riot. Flares, bottles etc were thrown. Needless to say it wasn't a pleasant experience. Just in front of us there was a mother with her two kids fearing for her and their lives. Another problem was security. The riot police did nothing but simply stood there and watched the game. And, although there was segregation, you came out of the tunnel and there was Lazio fans on one side and Roma on the other, with no fence seperating them. Anyway, that's going off topic slightly. As people have already said, the Bundesliga has just as much passion without the need of flares.
apaway
Guest
I didn't get goosebumps. I kept thinking how crap it would have been to have been trying to watch or play that game while breathing in all that smoke. Sorry, Nick, I just don't get it.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Nick - I only find myself in active areas when I go to away games. Last away game I went to, there I was standing with my girlfriend when some pimply kid in a hood walks up to my spot drops a smoke device and walks off. End result, an innocent guy in front of me gets mistakenly picked out by security as being the culprit. His night was ruined and he was dragged away. I don't need to see this rubbish at games. As a wog in Melbourne, I grew up with tribalism at VFL games. Its not just a European or Sth American thing. Things I saw growing up were never reported because it was part of the culture and the authorities knew how to handle it. Whereas, the average cop in Melbourne does not anything about active footbal support. If the A-League aspires to have AFL size crowds it won't be because of flares but because the football on the pitch. This is what the debate is should really be about. Season starts in 10 days. Can not come soon enough.
Rob
Guest
Wales play their home internationals there , plus 6 FA cups were held there whilst Wembley was being rebuilt
Nick
Guest
I think you are missing my point. At no stage have I said the A-League needs flares. What I find more interesting is the motives behind the criticism of flares in Australia. What is really the problem? Are we really concerned about safety, or is it really used as an angle by anti-football fans to label our game "ethnic" and "foreign", the whole "wogball" thing. We must remember, Europe and South America, who we all wish we had the quality leagues they do, comes with a strong culture of tribalism, and the flare is part and parcel of this. This tribalism is also what attracts "derbies" and the end result is bums on seats. I'm not saying that this is the way it has to be, or should be in Australia, but the reality is some of the best football leagues in the world are dominated by such activity. Like one previous comment said, it's only a problem if we make it one. Mikes article is proof of this, as this article was out of no where and unnecessary in my opinion. To say it's just a pimply kid letting off a flare because he can't get a root is really way off the mark, although I know you meant it as a joke.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
I wish a few Brisbane fans would have ripped a few flares and thrown them on the field to have the games canceled last season, maybe if they did we wouldn't have ended up as the worst Qld team in the league. Seriously though, Mike I agree wholeheartedly. While I will admit, I do like the look of a stadia in full blaze when the Ultras in Eastern Europe organize a pre-match/half time show, this culture isn't Australia. There are too many fans trying to force an atmosphere in this country rather then let it evolve. If you want to rip a flare at a football match, buy a ticket to Europe and go to a country that allows it to happen - As the old saying goes - "When in Rome". Anyways, off topic for a sec, Mike you sentence - "Use the Bundesliga as a template if we must, with active support at its most vociferous in Germany without the unnecessary use of pyrotechnics." I for one wished the FFA went the German route when setting up, instead of the Dutch (1 reason being the Dutch haven't on anything while the Germans have won a lot). But just think what the A-League would be like if it followed the Bundesliga. Affordable ticket pricing = bigger crowds. Community ownership - community have stake in the club, will support it more wholeheartedly, and clubs would be clubs, and not franchises. Back on topic - Good article.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Nick - as I said, if you want to see such flare displays then travel. Its not going to happen here and you just have to accept it. I go to A-League games to watch football, not to watch a pimply kid lett off a flare because he can't get a root :)
Nick
Guest
This video footage above is an interesting example. I think you would agree that anyone watching this footage would get goosebumps. Although many will not agree with me, I can only wish to see such scenes, chaos and passion at an A-League game in the future.To be honest, I think scenes like this would attract more fans to an A-League game! I do not think you will have one spectator in this footage complaining about flares. Also, 100% agree that we are a nanny state. I witnessed security guards go in heavy handed to the AEK fans over the weekend, asking the to stop waving their flags because apparantly they were a nuisance! What a joke there was no one behind them. This could of easily provoked a fight, then all of a sudden they would of been stereotyped as "hooligans" and ended up on the front page of the Daily Telegraph!! For what? Nothing! However, agree once again, we don't need flares, and yes the A-League has its own identity, but WOW look at that footage!
Art Sapphire
Guest
This is the sort of thing cpaaa is referring to. This is amazing footage - last season's Salonika derby - Aris v PAOK from last season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRAHgHxKIbk But, Australia is not Greece. I don't expect to see this at an A-League game and someone letting off one flare at an A-League game proves nothing. If you want a to see flare displays then travel. If you want to see equally active support without the flares go to Germany. Its all good. Its just that A-League wants to be more like the Germans. As long as the FFA treats active supporters with more respect then there is nothing wrong with that.
Alders
Guest
They play football at Millenium Stadium?