Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop has released a statement in response to the leaking of a list of 198 people who are banned from attending A-League matches.
Gallop’s full statement
When The Sunday Telegraph contacted me about a leaked list of 198 people banned from attending matches in the A-League, my reaction was to say “what part of banning 198 people supports the allegation that FFA is in denial?”
The existence of the list says it all. We have repeatedly and publicly said that we will identify and ban those who engage in anti-social behaviour at A-League matches. The list is the proof.
Since the publication of the story about the banned list, many in the game have pointed fingers about the list and how it came to be published.
The list is sent to clubs, venues and police to give them the tools to enforce the bans to protect the true football fans and the atmosphere they generate. Chances are we will never know who leaked the list and why they did it, but that’s not the main issue. Suffice to say, it wasn’t leaked by FFA.
The crux of the issue remains – when the people in charge of law and order in our nation – the various state police forces – identify an individual who has engaged in serious anti-social behaviour, we are compelled to act. We don’t want those people at our matches.
As part of regular security procedures we are meeting with Police, stadiums and fan groups this week.
FFA, in conjunction with Police, A-League clubs and various security consultants, has systems in place to identify individuals who don’t behave and don’t belong.
Some face criminal charges as a result of their actions. Even if they don’t, FFA and its clubs have a right to determine who can attend A-League matches.
If you come to our attention because of serious anti-social behaviour, you are liable to be banned. Every A-League club has a home ground and if you enter someone’s home you need to respect the host.
That being said, I also want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the millions of fans who love our game of football and create an incredible atmosphere at our matches. More than 1.8 million fans come to A-League matches across a season, and all but a few come to enjoy the football and support their team.
These fans are the heartbeat of the game.
When we say we want the best atmosphere in Australian sport and a family-friendly environment, the two goals are compatible and achievable. We just don’t want people who go to the football and break the law or disturb the enjoyment of fellow fans, no matter where they sit.
I am in New Delhi this week for meetings and the annual Asian Football Confederation (AFC) awards, where Australia has been nominated in several prestigious categories, including Member Association of the Year (based on the hugely successful hosting of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup), National Team of the Year (Socceroos – based on winning the AFC Asian Cup), Coach of the Year (Ange Postecoglou) and Female Player of the Year (Elise Kellond-Knight).
I will promote Australian interests within AFC forums, including the AFC Competitions Committee, of which I am a member. I encourage everyone to support the A-League in the right way this weekend.
We must all continue to work together on our mission to make football the biggest and most popular game in Australia and the 1.8 million fans who attend A-League games are a huge part of that.
We are Football.
Lionheart
Guest
ok I'm coming in late here. But one thing I got out of Bec Wilson's response on Fox News Sportsnight on Tuesday, was that she is playing the victim. The other thing, her point is the one getting the air time, rightly or wrongly, her voice is the most audible. As several comments above have said, it's a time to be careful and not play into her trap.
Baz
Guest
Let me just say You could have an appeals process but given they will just take what the one who wants to ban you side it's a massive waste of time. Unless you have lots of evidence to prove it wasn't you. You or your friends saying it wasn't you doesn't count. They will take the word of the person who wants to ban you first it's not a court of law. This is how it works with OLGAR They have saved these banned people time
NUFCMVFC
Roar Guru
Thing there though is that the FFA puts itself in a governing body position, yet it's judiciary system has nothing we would accept as part of an evolved system such as right of appeal or perhaps more relevant a sentencing guidelines framework relevant to certain infringements etc The fact the FFA does not have this undermines itself Above that, as a private operator they can ban people from their events, but this has become a public issue now given the people concerned have been subjected to character assassination in major papers and then compared to terrorists in Paris etc which seems rather defamatory
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
To be fair here. If Murdoch really wanted football dead in Australia he could probably buy the A-League 100 times over and destroy it from within 100 times over while potential making himself a hefty bit of pocket change driving it into the ground. Seriously Rupert Murdoch is one of the richest and most powerful men in the world. He's a guy who sneezes at BILLION dollar losses. He doesn't really care about Australia's petty code wars. To him it's probably his own form of a sport or hobby.
jbinnie
Guest
UJ -You miss my point completely and attempt to justify your thoughts with a ridiculous statistical argument about the "length of sentence". I think,no I know, there are people in our society.who do ridiculous,if not dangerous, things, not only to themselves but to others,and if they are to be punished for their actions then so be it, lets not worry about it for as I said it really is a minimal "sample" of the "whole". I can honestly say that anyone who compares the Paris shootings with someone throwing a flare on to a bare piece of ground is an idiot,and further more the editor or producer who allowed the statements to be used should also be included in that group of what I deem as "non-thinkers "equipped with big mouths and not very big brains. jb
Roy
Guest
If it is fact that this list was known and distributed to so many parties it is a bit ridiculous for so many posters here to get upset about it being “leaked” ! The reports referenced here from league and team officials support the fans etc. but none seem to dwell too much on . . .”the leak” ! Do people think that there is a law/rule that forbids people who are handed this list by its originators, handing them on to other parties(media) ? That sounds pretty laughable. i.e “The leak” is a red herring and getting hot and bothered about it is a total waste of energy.
BigAlII
Guest
If it is fact that this list was known and distributed to so many parties it is a bit ridiculous for so many posters here to get upset about it being "leaked" ! The reports referenced here from league and team officials support the fans etc. but none seem to dwell too much on . . ."the leak" ! Do people think that there is a law/rule that forbids people who are handed this list by its originators, handing them on to other parties(media) ? That sounds pretty laughable. i.e "The leak" is a red herring and getting hot and bothered about it is a total waste of energy.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Paul, you clearly have no idea about the dialogue the RBB has with the club and had with the FFA. They've been stabbed in the back a few times, but of course you dont know that because you have zero idea about any of the issues at hand.
marron
Roar Guru
Another bit of comment on cases like that. http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1snu6mj
marron
Roar Guru
I get what you are saying spruce, that they have the right, but even with footage clearly showing no case to answer? I don't get why, even aside from the unfairness of that, the ffa seem intent on alienating people with stuff like that.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"And the innocent parties that got burned by flares last year what are you going to do for them?" Me personally? Lol. Again, distorting the issue. We're not upset about the people that ripped flares getting banned. Can you understand that? It appears you're having trouble grasping that simple point. Take a deep breath and think about it.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Paul "Horto your attitude sums it up: if you don’t agree with us we will attack you." Hypocrite alert. I said 5 words and you fly into a rabid tirade full of untruths, capped off with a gross generalisation and a personal insult. Ok.. "I’m glad I can’t meet you fellas face to face, I’ve a feeling you’d be leaning all over me and threatening." He says after losing his cool. Sounds to me that you're the only unhinged maniac here champ. You make me laugh.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"If you could actually prove you weren’t in the country, you have a legal recourse." Is that so is it? Legal recourse through which channel exactly? As far as I'm aware FFA do not provide any avenue of appeal. I'm sure you'll enlighten us all specifically as to how "the legal system can actually help".
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Most grounds are goverment owed, either local, state or federal. They aren't private premises
marron
Roar Guru
If its an insignificant proportion of people that want change it won't be a big deal if they do something that appears divisive will it. Hardly bigger than the game or even important then is it. Flare throwers and perpertrstors of violence are largely banned without objection from anybody.
Paul
Guest
End of the day for me, I haven't felt so down on football in over ten years. It seems as a sporting code we learn nothing. I just caught the local radio news on this story, as usual being soccer it got 10 seconds, this is what my family heard: "The FFA have issued a press release urging soccer fans to cease death threats to journalist Rebecca Wilson who earlier in the day broke down in tears on live TV." How good do we all look tonight ladies and gentlemen? Active Support my backside.
spruce moose
Guest
Actually Horto. If you could actually prove you weren't in the country, you have a legal recourse. Half you out there actually forget that the legal system can actually help you.
spruce moose
Guest
No...he'd lose. But the one thrown out for alleged possession of a flare when in fact he had a drumstick would win. Or the ones who can prove they were nowhere near the scene of the alleged incidents would win. It's a lot easier to win if you weren't also slapped with a criminal charge.
marron
Roar Guru
Paul that's not what happened. Many people around him, including the capo, told him to pull his head in. below you talk about total lack of cooperation but this is not true either. Things were working well for a while there precisely because there was negotiated cooperation.
Paul
Guest
And the innocent parties that got burned by flares last year what are you going to do for them?