Football fans of all codes in Australia can be broken down into percentages. They are made of families, “the boys”, “the girls”, couples, individuals, those with millions of dollars and not too many worries, those with millions of worries and not too many dollars.
There are the die-hards and the infamously Roy Keane-titles “prawn sandwich brigade.
All have something in common though and that is, an interest at some level, on what is taking place on the grass in front of them.
The Herald Sun has taken a particularly harsh brush to the football (soccer) supporters in Melbourne. The Victoria Police provide the paint and the idea for a portrait of what Super Intendant Rod Wilson describes “that police were reluctant to cover Melbourne Victory games after being assaulted by fans” and that “Wilson said local soccer fans were the worst-behaved because of their violence, anti-social behaviour and lighting of flares.”
The problem is intensified by old soccer’s supposed and sometimes accurate sordid past and the Herald Sun, seeing an opportunity to appeal to its masses of Australian football-loving readership ran a story that is out of proportion to what the facts are.
Despite the low level, Mark Riley-style (Channel 7 reporter who confronted Tony Abbott), ambush journalism that we so often see from the News Limited papers in all states, it doesn’t stop the fact that many of the critics of the article and indeed supporters of football (soccer) in Australia were quick to scream and moan.
Immediately, the twitter-sphere was awash with Craig Foster, Francis Leach, and other football supporters crying foul of the Herald Sun and the Victoria Police. If the article was out to draw a reaction, it had delivered.
An avalanche of outrage directed at the Sun and the police has been run all day through various regulation and social medias.
The problem I have is the leveling that A-League supporters have felt they need to do. Certainly there is violence at AFL matches.
Yes, I have seen a fan hit another fan, both, supporters of the same team and opposition supporters. I don’t condone this behavior either.
However, the simple fact is that football (soccer) fans in Australia still feel the need to bring flares along to some games and set them off. This does not happen in the AFL. Flares draw attention – they make good pictures on the news. Also, what never happens in the AFL is the chanting in unison by the crowd as in the example via the link of Melbourne Victory supporters, “All cops are bastards.”
The way that football people jump up and down saying it’s the AFL with an agenda or that the AFL is trying to set an agenda in the mainstream media is childish and looking for something to blame.
Address your own issues. Flares are banned and enforcing the ban obviously doesn’t always work. Encourage supporters not to bring them in, encourage supporters to respect the police.
I certainly don’t believe the Herald Sun article to be a 100 per cent portrayal of all football fans. It’s a stereotype.
Unfortunately for Mr Foster and company, passion is one thing, abuse of authorities and using flares is another thing all together. This can be controlled.
However, it seems that the authorities including the Victory’s Geoff Lord want to blame everyone else but themselves.
Nathan
Guest
I do remember leaving Subi after a match against the Demons heading to the trains and there's some solitary demons supporters mouthing off to the whole crowd of 99.99% Eagles supporters (Melb lost that one). Always felt rather impressed no one knocked him on the head during that. Mind you, suppose its easier to be gracious when you win.
Ryan
Guest
Couldn't agree more Con. I love flares too, but if those flares cost us 1 or 2 thousand supporters for whatever reasons, then we have to get rid of them.
Ryan
Guest
Yeah they happen - they happen once.
Ryan
Guest
Been a victory supporter since first season and 3 time member and go to nearly every home game with my mates. My opinions: * Flares - Got no problem with Flares personally (I actually like them), but ordinary families with young kids COULD find them intimidating because they are psychosocially associated with trouble and distress. Even if only a handful of people and scared off by this, it could be one small factor in our diminishing crowds?? Plus they are baned so really you shouldn't have them. * The language - Not by individuals but by large groups of supporters singing "F**k off united" and whatever. This I have a problem with not just because it is just so f**king juvenile to sing songs like that, but this really discourages families from coming back. When you have large groups of people singing these aggressive and offensive songs, you are going to scare a lot of people off. In season 1 &2 & even 3, I was more than guilty in joining along in this singing, but have grown up though. * The POETENTIAL for violence - I know you get violence at nearly all sports (including afl), but at the soccer it is another level. Fans from one team (such as Melb Vic) at RARE times I have seen will seriously want to "mob up" and fight the opposition supporters when there has been a bad call or playing Sydney F.C (because we hate them the most). These times have been RARE, prob seen 1 or 2 a season, but going to the AFL, I have NEVER seen this mentality. Sure there have been individual / small group fights at the AFL, but never a mob mentality. Having said this I still love watching a fight or when someone gets arrested, but just pointing out to the one eyed soccer people here that this MENTALITY is there.
Jeremy
Guest
Flares don't happen in AFL? This picture must be wrong then: http://yfrog.com/h6jueowj
con
Guest
as an active fan i honestly love flares, im going to argentina this year and cant wait to see the colour and passion at a river plate game. unfortunately im sensible enough to know that flares are partly the reason behind home-end memberships and our clueless police/ffa thinking its dangerous. all the people which light flares (it could be even one person) sits down the back in the middle of the north terrace. just stop them/him from doing it and let us progress our game. if you know its bringing a negative image and causing wankers like rod wilson to attack the game then just stop doing it. i urge mvfc fans, if you see someone doing it, please please please tell them off or have them evicted
Brad
Guest
Stopping flares isn't going to miraculously change the perceived bias, and that's not what he's suggesting. There are elements that bring flares to matches. There are elements that seem more concerned with maintaining a hostile presence against police/security at matches. That needs to be addressed and until it is, expect the media to use it against football in this country. Yes, there are other factors that contribute to the issue but we need to be able to stand back and accurately state that it's not our end causing all the problems.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Andrew Leonard what makes you think "not bringing flares" will change the anti-football attitude vocalised by Supt. Wilson of VicPol? Surely, if it were as simple as that, Supt Wilson from VicPol would have come out yesterday and simply stated: "football fans are not a problem at all; we are just concerned that flares are potentially dangerous in such a confined environment". Now, if Wilson had said that, all football fans above voting age would not have had any issue. However, this plodder came out with factually incorrect rubbish about football fans being the most violent of all sports fans. I tell you what. Supt Wilson should have a chat to the Polish Riot Police, Italian Riot Police, Danish Riot Police ... or, riot police from anywhere in the world outside Australia. They would have a laugh if they heard VicPol members are intimidated and afraid to manage a group of teenagers who jump up and down at a sporting event. I have a lot of mates at VicPol and they, too, are fed up with the way "the brass" is managing the Force they joined in the 70s & 80s ... sadly, many - ex-SOG, ex-Armed Robbery, ex-Major Crime - have long departed "the job". Apparently, since Nixon too control, they are told to be a Police SERVICE ... not a Police Force! Would love to know what VicPol's greatest Commissioner, Mick Miller, thinks of the current police administration in Victoria.