Football in Australia thrives on energetic, enigmatic and enthusiastic fans, three words that depict the core supporter groups of each A-League club.
12 minutes and 12 seconds – symbolising the role of the 12th man – was also the time allocated by Adelaide United’s ‘Red Army’ supporter group to protest with defening silence against the overly aggressive treatment by security guards at Hindmarsh stadium and lack of support from the club.
Fan Phillip Rollas took to Facebook to vent his frustration. “(Fans) are treated with a prejudiced and heavy-handed approach by security for the most minuscule of things.
“Security guards confiscated Santa beards over the Christmas period and are accused of ejecting fans for trivial matters such as removing their shirts.
“Most activities, fans say, would barely raise an eyebrow at cricket matches or other A-League home grounds.”
Other supporters have taken their frustrations to fourfourtwo, the Adelaide United Facebook page and even Channel Seven.
These issues are starting to take toll on the loyal die-hard paying members who say it’s only a matter of time until they walk out.
The issue is with poor treatment to active supporters and how their loyal support is virtually being thrown back in their face.
The mainstream media have not been assisting either. A recent Channel Nine story led to a unified response from fans saying “Passion is not a crime”. This same statement applies to this issue as well.
Adelaide United, just a few days ago, put out a press release on their website. The message was clear as day to supporters. The club will support the efforts of ground staff to stamp out any disruptive behaviour and ensure other paying patrons an enjoyable time.
There was confusion though as club supporters have said fan bays are roped off, supporters are turned away from entering active support areas and bans are arbitrarily applied.
So what’s the issue?
Well it seems obvious to us but oblivious to those who are associated with Adelaide United. The issue is communication. If it isn’t sorted soon then there may be no avenue to communicate.
Since the A-League’s inception core supporter groups have been deemed the nucleus, life and blood of a club. Core supporter groups are vital to the continual growth of our fan-base as they add that spicy flavour that other Australian sports can’t on a regular basis.
It would seem as though the poison to our sport is the parochial mindset adopted by mainstream media outlets regarding football fans. Some blame also lies more broadly in society, specifically those who believe what they are told by these media sources.
Before a parochial mindset has been settled on, we must ensure these barriers are broken down. This will create a smoother transition for future growth and development of football.
Until this occurs it is an uphill battle and a long one at that.
Anthony
Guest
I think everyone needs to take a good dose of Green Street Hooligans & realise it could be a lot worse & also realise the media isn't going to change their opinion on (in my eyes) REAL FOOTBALL FANS. It becomes religion & obsessions for fans, they should be allowed to embrace their passion in a way they feel suitable. Within the means of the law.
Australian Rules
Guest
please don't post calm, rational answers...it just stirs him up.
Titus
Guest
No worries mate, I'm perfectly happy not to watch Rugby or AFL, just explaining to the Don why we don't give a rats about their sports.
Reynoldsinski
Guest
Titus - you should just watch what you enjoy. I doubt whether Australians will ever watch football in the numbers that you hope for, so don't waste your life by being petty.
Titus
Guest
The Don......270k watch the BBL regularly on Foxtel compared to 80k watching the A-league. When Australian's start watching Football, I'll start watching Rugby/AFL.
Reynoldsinski
Guest
So did you abandoned all your AFL mates when you turned your back on the game? Speaking of football never sleeps, does any sport sleep? You could probably follow any sport at various levels for 12 months of the year if you wanted to.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Thanks for the compliment, Reynoldinski. Majority of my social group are football nuts - we still play football every Saturday - and partners/wives simply ignore our football discussion. About 16 of followed AUS around Germany at WC2006, whilst the wives/partners holidayed in Italy .. there were no complaints from anyone.
Reynoldsinski
Guest
What a well rounded life you have. You must be a riot at dinner parties.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@the Don I only comment about RL when an RL fan enters a Football discussion with an antagonistic attitude. Notwithstanding my devotion to the Catholic faith, I find it incredibly difficult to "turn the other cheek" .. and, I'm sure I'll have "to do time" in Purgatory after the Day of Judgement to reflect on this human failing :-) Alas, football never sleeps so I have little time (or interest) to engage with other sports. For instance, during the A-League off-season this year, my sporting itinerary will be filled with: Group matches in the Asian Champions League, final matches of all Euro leagues, the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey, DFB Pokal, Confederations Cup, u20 FIFA WC, AUS Qualifiers for 2014 WC ... football never sleeps.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Punter----ADP used the word "Soccer" only because he is learning English. Unfortunately English tutors use the soccer term when teaching English. This is so common it is laughable, because they are old school and don't know any better. I now a lass who teaches English and has no affiliation with any code of football whatsoever. She told me, it is common practice to teach new comers using the word Soccer when teaching the English language---thinking they are doing the correct thing in doing so.. Of course we now know better...
the Don
Guest
OK, if you have no opinion on RL then why do you feel the need to put it down all the time? You should head out to a Storm game one day and see what the game is actually like, you never know you might like it and in my experience most soccer fans really enjoy RL and vice versa. Also I find that most of the off-field issues relating to RL, are generally small incidents that the media down south blows out of all proportions. I also find that the off-field incidents in the AFL are far worse but are widely ignored by the media, which I find very strange.
Redb
Roar Guru
Not comprehending very well, I said that is the probable reason not that I agreed with it.
Punter
Guest
AR, there is nothing wrong with the name Soccer, ADP uses the word, the name is used in Europe quite regularly. But to try to answer your question, Why is soccer such a dirty word here in Australia, is because for many years football fans heard the same thing, it's not football, it's soccer. I still hear AFL & NRL commentators calling the head body Soccer Australia & refusing to call them by their true name FFA (Football Federation of Australia). Hence this is why us football fans despise this name, it's always been used in this country in a derogatory fashion, it's SOCKAH not FOOTBALL. I heard this all my life, when I knew it was football. It's like you being told repeatedly that it's AFL not football in the southern states. I hope this helps.
Cameron
Roar Guru
The problem isn't with our supporters, it's the bloody security monitoring it! Not all grounds and supporter groups have this problem of harassment but seriously Santa beards! I find it ludicrous that at the cricket people can dress how they like, even in morph suits. I remember not that long ago at the Queensland Reds matches at the same stadium Suncorp that they were aloud, but no, not at Brisbane Roar! Perhaps they aren't scared of hooliganism but football just plain and simple flourishing to even greater heights!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"The santa beards would be a problem due to identification" So, if the same blokes grew a beard & dyed it white would that also cause "problems due to identification" - would the police ask them to shave it off? Some of the nonsense that's posted by non-football fans, is beyond belief. What about blokes putting on wigs and cross-dressing when attending the Cricket & Spring Carnival ... or is that simply a lifestyle choice?
Redb
Roar Guru
I'm pointing out why they would be asked to remove them. Personally thinks its overkill as well.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Australian Rules... loving this debate.. (lol) What of the use, of the term "Australian Football" that all football journalists are now referencing our game in Australia as, ie in the many articles now being published here on he Roar and other websites including the print media...? Serious thoughts please... Are you confused by it---or do you know what we are talking about when you come to the Football Tab?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@the Don In AUS, my home for 40 years has been Melbourne. I've had ZERO exposure to RL in these 40 years, so I have no reason to like or dislike the sport - I simply don't know anything about it, other than headlines about off-field issues, which make the front page of newspapers. For the umpteenth time .. I do NOT care what others call Football. Just don't tell me what I should call it.
the Don
Guest
Fuss, What did RL ever do to you to make you hate it so much? Also who cares if people call football soccer, soccer is a better name anyway.
Kasey
Guest
I'll give you one reason amongst many: For 30 odd years the word Soccer was closely tied to the negative images of the game perpetuated by the media in this country. When the A-league was launched the opportunity was taken to re-launch the brand of the game under the moniker ‘football’ in an attempt to distance the game (from the negative connotations of the past) by which it is know throughout the rest of the world. When Someone uses ‘Soccer.’ It is tacit to saying, I don’t like this new direction the game has taken and I would rather it go back to being the laughing stock of Australian sport so that my preferred sport can thrive. When we say football instead of Soccer we are saying we are on board with the amazing steps forward the game has taken. That is just one reason why the word Soccer is derided by those that truly believe in the enormous potential of the game. In the same way what you call Derry/Londonderry(the city in Northern Ireland) indicates on which side of their ideological divide you fall) the terminology used when describing the round-ball game in Australia indicates to some people whether you’re on board with the reform and growth of the game so that it can realise its potential. I’m not asking you to understand or change your behaviour(what you call your sports is your thing, not ours), just to acknowledge and respect our choice to call our game what we want to call it. I think only if you’ve lived through the dark times of SoccerAustralia ‘administering’ the sport (and I use the term administer loosely) can you understand just how far we’ve come and how exciting it is to be a football fan now and feeling as though we are finally on the cusp of taking the important steps up to being a respected football code within this country.