Patterson was speaking on Mitchell’s morning radio show in Melbourne after the Socceroos played out an entertaining 0-0 draw with Serbia in a friendly watched by more than 28,000 fans at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
One fan was arrested and seven were evicted for anti-social behaviour during the match, but Mitchell chose to ignore those facts by claiming “several thousand people were involved in this, according to the police,” before later revising that figure down to “2,000 or 3,000.”
Like a schoolyard bully lashing out at the smartest kid in the class, the hectoring Mitchell did his best to antagonise an unflappable Patterson but seemed exasperated when his tirade failed to elicit the desired response.
“If you think it’s an over-reaction, you’ve got your head in the sand. It’s going to happen again and you won’t get anybody going to the game,” Mitchell said.
“I take your wisdom and your judgement. I don’t think you’ll find that the majority of sports fans, or football fans will agree with it,” Patterson replied.
“Soccer fans,” sulked Mitchell.
Mitchell’s childish retort speaks volumes for the kind of small-mindedness football fans must put up with every day in Australia, and there was plenty more of it on display on the website of Melbourne’s AFL-obsessed Herald Sun.
Just under 300 readers commented on a story entitled “Police flag heftier penalties for fans lighting flares at the soccer,” and refreshingly many of those comments criticised an obvious media beat-up.
Predictably though, there were those who used the story as a platform to espouse their own unique world views.
“Anyone who can sit through a game of soccer is not going to have the highest IQ,” wrote one enlightened reader.
“Listen to you whinging about how the H(erald) S(un) is anti-soccer – wake up – Australia is ANTI SOCCER,” wrote another.
Still another wrote, “(h)appens at almost every game, racial vilification and abuse within the crowds is tantamount to any soccer game played in melbourne, its (sic) part of the culture of the sport here” – although I personally have never witnessed any such behaviour in Melbourne.
An overwhelming number of readers claimed scoreless draws were the reason for anti-social behaviour, while many more respondents employed the phrase “go back to your own country” in referring to the story.
Of course, those readers are entitled to their opinions – even if factual evidence appears to have little bearing on them.
But the problem for the FFA going forward is the inexplicable vitriol prominent media figures like Mitchell continue to pour on the game.
That’s where Patterson’s contribution was so vital.
For once, the FFA had an actual football lover in place to articulate the feelings of fans frustrated by the constant media beat-ups and selective reporting of journalists like Mitchell.
That said – and this is a point I’ve made several times before – but any time flares are ripped in an Australian stadium, it gives the game’s detractors all the ammunition they need to pen reams of anti-football rhetoric.
And while it would be a tragedy to not invite a fine football team like Serbia to our shores, hindsight suggests they perhaps weren’t the most risk-free choice of opponent.
Still, I saw more fans ejected when I attended the first day of the Ashes cricket Test in Brisbane last year.
I didn’t hear Neil Mitchell call for a blanket ban on English supporters in the wake of anti-social incidents at the cricket, but then I guess that doesn’t suit his blatant anti-football agenda.
Bamboo Tattoo Thailande
Guest
Thats an all 'round well written piece..
Kasey
Guest
So in light of recent events in Vancouver, we get to see what a 'real riot' looks like...if Vicpol were there(BC) after their carry on about a couple of teenagers lighting marine signal flares and holding them over their heads as they chant in unison, I imagine they would have soiled themselves. this month alone, we've seen: 2 arrested(7 evicted) from a crowd of 28k at a Socceroos game in Melbourne, some very distasteful banners and much bruhaha from the redneck media(Neil Mitchell, Herald Sun et al) http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/fans-lob-flare-at-socceroo-serbia-match/story-e6frf9if-1226071241239 11 arrested (45 ejected and 13 banned) from ANZ stadium after being Drunk & Disorderly at Origin II - still surprised that the Hun printed a story about it, but no where near the vitriol directed at league as there was towards 'sokkah' http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/eleven-nrl-fans-arrested-at-origin-ii/story-e6frf7jx-1226076281337 Full-on riot and craziness in Vancouver after the Canucks lose the Stanley cup in 6 to Boston. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/stanley-cup-game-6/story-e6frf9if-1226076440465 I ask, which stories were written with a balanced tone and which were written with the obvious objective to paint a sport in a negative light? Pretty simple assessment if you ask me - and it points to the obvious bias of the News Ltd paper in Melbourne.
Kasey
Guest
just as an example of how fairly SBS treats all soprts in my experience..last night(14Jun11) on World News, the sports report had: Football - footage of the Matilda's receiving their kits and farewell do before heading to the Womens World Cup in Germany NRL - footage of Mal Meninga arriving with the QLD squad in Sydney prior to SOOII in Sydney tonight, AFL - a report on Joel Selwood being rubbed out for 4 games for hit on some Hawthorn player, Ice Hockey - footage of the Boston Bruins winning a game in the NHLs Stanley Cup playoff finals to take the series to 7 games back in Vancouver. Cycling - a report that some in Europe consider the Tour de France field to be tainted by the inclusion of Alberto Contodorthis year. I dare anyone to find a more balanced sport report in any city on any channel currently operating in Australia. Do you perceuive it as bias at SBS because they actually report about football? Last I checked, their remit was "bringing the world back home" and guess what?, the vast majority of the world plays football and so do we:) it is natural that they would find time to include football stories, just as Nein would rather interview a Rugby League players underdaks in the lead up to Origin - knowing full well that they telecast the event and they aretrying to increase interest in it so they can sell advertising space to companies for higher sums!
mahony
Guest
Comparing predominantly individual sports (tennis / skiiing / swimming), billionare engineering team sports (sailing and motor sports), drug fuelled team sports (team cycling) and the hosting of major events (Olympics etc..) is not helpfull. Compaing the performance of the A-League and Socceroos with other global team sports is the only meaningfull comparrison. And we all know the result of that..... Come on the Roos!
mahony
Guest
lol!
pete4
Guest
I must admit I agree with Craig Foster's latest column. I mean you only have look how many times soccer has made the front page of the Herald Sun in the last 6 months "soccer disgrace", "soccer fans most violent" etc always negative (noticed it's sister paper The Age down there didn't publish it online either) http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/smear-at-will-how-to-make-the-bigots-hall-of-fame-20110611-1fy07.html
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
The salaries in the J-League are comparable to Europe if you exclude the "big" leagues so only their very best move to Europe (I think you'll find more Aussies in Europe than Japanese even though on average Japanese are better technically). I can't see the A-League ever getting to the stage so we will never have half of a full strength Socceroos squad made up A-League players.
Evan Askew
Guest
Our other retort could be that the players in AFL are the best in the world because no one plays it and that the NRL players are best in the world because there are only 2 other competitions to compare. (England and France) Rugby Union players in the super 15 are the best in the world and they do have a few other nations that play the sport to a high level so Union afficionado's do have that over us. But hopefully we can reach the point where half of our national team is playing domestically because it is a competitive league. Masny players in the Japanese national team play in the J laegue so that is the level we shoud aspire too.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Thanks, Mike. Whilst I was expecting a decent retort from Craig Foster (and he's done a terrific job with his article), I'm really happy with Simon Hill's article ... terrific to have the Football community rally behind this cause. Whilst Football fans in Australia are a diverse bunch, who follow different teams - often from different and remote regions - we are all drawn together on this one issue and I have no doubt it is this solidarity, when facing a common enemy, that makes football in Australia thrive ... even in the face of extreme adversity and unprovoked attacks.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
A couple more views on biased reporting. Simon Hill - http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/why-do-afl-nrl-flagwavers-denigrate-soccer-at-every-opportunity-fox-sports-football-commentator-simon-hill-asks/story-e6frf423-1226073107942 Craig Foster - http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/smear-at-will-how-to-make-the-bigots-hall-of-fame-20110611-1fy07.html?rand=1307800802332
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Unfortunately football's best talent will end up moving to the more wealthy European and Asian leagues. So right-wing media can always point to the fact that the A-League does not comprise the best available talent. The other codes have the best available talent. The only retort we can have is having former A-League players becoming world renown players like Kewell and Cahill. We can say that they are products of the A-League. Unfortunately this hasn't happened yet and I don't think it will happen for at least 10 years. The fruits of the new technical curriculum and youth development strategies implemented by Han Berger will only be seen when kids that are 10 years or younger start becoming pro players (perhaps with the exception of Armini and Antonis who are exceptional talents).
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ Johnno Really? Can you kindly point to some examples of alleged biased reporting of sport on SBSTV? I watch a lot of SBSTv and can honestly say it provides the highest quality & most diverse TV programmes of sport, including:Football, cycling, test cricket, athletics World Championships, minor sports at the Summer Olympics, etc. And, when SBS broadcasts sport they do it professionally. Unlike the commercial tv stations, SBS doesn't wouldn't use sport illiterates to provide expert analysis of the event being broadcast and they broadcast every second of the event ... every ball bowled during the Ashes; every kick of the FIFA WC. And, the SBS sports journalists behave like professionals and, when they interview a guest, they are courteous, respectful and do not bring any personal bias to the interview. Kyle Patterson is an ex-SBS journo and his professionalism was a wonderful contrast to the amateur behaviour of Neil Mitchell.
Johnno
Guest
SBS os very biased they have there own agendas to.
Evan Askew
Guest
Every technical reform engendered by the new football administration has being geared to ensuring that we are not like the English. As passionate as England is about football they are not exactly achievers in the sport when one considers their level of passiona for the game and the number of people who play it.
Evan Askew
Guest
I'm a football fan and I don't really follow league except in the days when the Brisbane Rugby league competition was a strong comp when I was a young un. But I get the impression that Rebecca Wilson is almost universally despised among rugby league fans?
con
Guest
its a flare.... get over it
steve ellis
Guest
Before it was common knowledge media outlets like the hun and 3aw were simply clueless.. now its clear..it is more of a strategy...these reactionary ultr-right wing media outlets are on a substained negative hate-filled negative campaign at every opportubnity to 'label' football as marginal and 'un-australian '.. to position it with thiose other objects of conservativve mainstream hate... .muslims, reffos, greenies, academics, climate change supporters, non-anglo foreigners in general etc their message to football..we don't care what you do..we will ignore all positive ffotball stories and 'spin' any other news to fit in with our preconceived view.. truly disgusting in 2011 ...and proof of this section of australias commercial media ..i.e Hun, 3aw. ch7 shameless and complete abandoment of any ethics,...
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Yes, I paid $500 for my registration last year. I remember my junior rego back in the day being over $300. The main problem is that rego fees go towards paying senior players. And clubs go into debt to try and gain success in the state leagues (or promotion to higher divisions). And, the cost is put onto the mums and dads paying for kids to play the sport. Another problem is state and regional association levies that are added onto rego fees (in addition to the FFA levy). These bodies have presidents and management who are paid to do pretty much nothing. States and regional associations should be part of the FFA and only have technical and admin staff...no presidents and management staff. These regional associations make a killing charging junior rep players to play rep football (and the states do the same). Governance is huge problem with football in this country. The FFA should abolish the states and regional associations (hopefully the government enquiry happening at the moment will recommend this and threaten to discontinue funding until it happens). Then make a rule that you cannot play in the state leagues (or higher semi pro leagues) unless you debt level is manageable (repayments are some percentage of total revenue). There are rules like this in Germany and France. UEFA are trying to bring in "financial fair play". Why should football at state level in this country be any different?
jamesb
Guest
does neil mitchell know anything about 4-2-3-1 4-4-2 4-3-3 (my preference) 3-4-3 4-1-3-2 5-4-1 5-3-2 5-2-2-1 i don't think so, thats where the problem lies. Same goes with mainstream media. yours truly is not an expert in regards to those formations,but I'm learning about the game, and love the game Kyle Patterson also knows that Mitchell knows nothing about the game. Thats why Patterson encouraged him to go to a live game, with Mitchell declining. Patterson nailed him right there! Patterson is a very experenced media man. He knows when its time to point out the facts to Mitchell and stay calm through the barrage from Mitchell. Also, more importantly, Patterson knows how to talk. Thats the key. Patterson knows when to be calm, and also knows when to put someone in their place. So if any media out their that doesn't have a clue about football, or just wants to attack football, and their dealing with Kyle Patterson, my advice to the Mitchells of this world, be very prepared, because Patterson will put egg on your face, just like he did with Mitchell. FFA have finally made a right decision by getting Patterson on board. He won't be a push over.
Bondy
Guest
It's interesting isn't it, that the dominant media dominate there territory, and very effectively . Neil Mitchell illustrates that Football is foreign every element to it. Though he has no problem with a Majak Daw interview two days prior explaining how the game of A.F.L. has changed the Sudanese born boys life and delves deep into life in the Sudan . Would Neil do the same with a prospective Socceroo coming through the grades ?. You get what you pay for .