Western Sydney have implored FFA not to punish the A-League club’s innocent parties, arguing a large fine or points deduction would do nothing to stop belligerent rogue fans staining their reputation.
The Wanderers submitted their response to FFA by the stipulated deadline of 5pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, two days after being ordered to show cause why they should not face sanction for “bringing the game into disrepute”.
They face a nervous wait as FFA reviews the submission before making a determination on what action to take.
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Chief executive John Tsatsimas said the submission outlined a number of methods they felt might help eliminate pyrotechnic displays like the one that halted Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.
The flares and detonators, ignited inside the Wanderers’ away bay, infuriated FFA and swept the governing body into action against a club that had already weathered its fair share of storms over the behaviour of its fan base.
Tsatsimas has pinpointed the problem at away matches, where any member of the public can buy tickets for the designated supporters’ bays, as opposed to home games where only members are able to enter the Red and Black Bloc (RBB) section.
But while roundly condemning the actions of a few, he joined a growing chorus including Victory coach Kevin Muscat in arguing it would be “totally unfair” for FFA to inflict collateral damage on Tony Popovic’s A-League leaders by docking them competition points.
“We defend all the efforts undertaken by those involved in the club who are good people – the fans, our members, players, coaches, staff and board,” Tsatsimas told AAP.
“They’ve done nothing wrong in this instance, and penalising the club doesn’t eradicate the problem.
“The problem is not within the club. It’s people using the club from an external basis for their own personal narcissistic pursuits.
“It’s totally unfair – I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
Wanderers players Brendon Santalab and Dario Vidosic denounced the unruly behaviour and conceded FFA needed to act against law-breakers – but not the players.
“We give 100 per cent week in, week out, so to punish the players would be ridiculous in my mind,” he said.
It was a view already taken by Brisbane striker Jamie Maclaren this week, and Muscat added another rival’s voice of support on Wednesday.
“They’ve worked so hard to get the points they’ve got,” Muscat told Fox Sports News.
“To be threatened with losing points, I feel sorry for them.”
Despite the Wanderers’ tireless work in coordinating security with various venues and authorities, Tsatsimas lamented that “there’ll always be elements out of our control” at away fixtures.
The next is the Sydney derby, which draws a large contingent of travelling Wanderers fans, including non-members.
“At the end of the day, if the police can’t find them, and security can’t deal with them, the FFA can’t deal with them and the club can’t deal with them, then there’s no easy solution,” Tsatsimas said.
“People far better at policing and with far better knowledge in that space than any of us haven’t found a solution.
“What I will be saying is that everyone is working together to get to some point where these morons are eliminated from our game.”
Police presence will also likely be increased at Pirtek Stadium for Sunday’s home match against Wellington.
Batou
Guest
“At the end of the day, if the police can’t find them, and security can’t deal with them, the FFA can’t deal with them and the club can’t deal with them, then there’s no easy solution,” Tsatsimas said. “People far better at policing and with far better knowledge in that space than any of us haven’t found a solution. That quote from Tsatsimas shows exactly why the FFA are considering punishing the Wanderers with points reductions. If what the club and their supporters claim is true and these people are not members then the RBB may not be guilty of setting off flares but they are definitely guilty of a total lack of self policing and of creating an environment in which flares are acceptable, or even approved of. The FFA must surely be thinking that the only way to get their members to take this seriously is if they are impacted by this negative behaviour rather than letting them simply deflect the blame every time and point the finger at 'outsiders.' Having said that, I'm against points deduction as it compromises the integrity of the competition. Some other kind of punitive punishment could be appropriate though. Possibly combined with some carrot as well (eg the FFA supporting rail seating in the proposed para stadium upgrade if they behave).
FIUL
Guest
BREAKING FFA has found WSW guilty & fined $50000 fine plus a suspended penalty of 3 points deducted if another incident occurs within the next 12 months.
FIUL
Guest
"People have been killed and severely injured by flares at football matches. They pose a much larger risk per incident than drunks." FACT: More people are injured, killed & have their lives ruined by drunks than flares. In fact, the biggest reason for presenting to the Emergency Department of a hospital in Australia is now due to alcohol-related issues. I'd be keen to check the stats: people admitted to emergency departments due to flares vs alcohol
Dean
Guest
It's a general statement about society. There have been steps taken to minimise it including mid-strength alcohol only etc, but no leagues or venues see it as a massive problem. There are drunks at just about every sporting match and nobody wants to sit next to them and they get evicted all the time, rightfully so, but most leagues and venues draw the line at that, though the MCG dishes out year-long bans all the time. Nobody would like to sit next to either drunks or flare rippers. If there were constant problems with drunks in the North Terrace or RBB or Essendon cheer squad they would sort that out too with harsher measures. People have been killed and severely injured by flares at football matches. They pose a much larger risk per incident than drunks.
Kaks
Roar Guru
You think he hasnt? You think the WSW board isnt constantly communicating with the RBB? Whether you like it or not, the WSW club and the FFA can not control every single action by the people who go to the game. Tell me, what are the club able to do that wont; 1) Ruin its relationship with its fans 2) Appease people who will never be appeased (as per Dean above who just hates active support as they bullied him once upon a time) 3) Punish a majority for the actions of a minority The club and the FFA will ban anyone they find to have set off those flares, that is all they can do and all they should do. You cant control everything even though the mother of all nanny states - Sydney - believes it can.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"get a firm agreement that they will self police flare droppers in the midst" You propose citizens arrest? Can you elaborate on the term "self-police"?
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Frankly, I'd rather neither. Why doesn't Tsatsimas speak with the RBB cappos and get a firm agreement that they will self police flare droppers in the midst? What do RBB want? Flares or points deducted? I'm sure I know what WSW players want.
FIUL
Guest
Don't generalise about how we all react. I'd rather be sitting next to a bloke who lights a flare, than a drunk who is capable of punching a woman in the throat; or threatens to stab a woman in the head with a chopstick.
Dean
Guest
Rightly or wrongly, getting drunk at rugby 7's is considered acceptable up to a point or the cricket, football, AFL or rugby. It also doesn't show up on TV or halt the game. Flares at football matches are dangerous, on the weekend they held up the game and they continually happen in the same areas. That's just another intangible of knowing where society draws the line, we'll put up with a bit of drunkenness because it's been going on since rum was our first currency. Flares are entirely new and something the public won't put up with.
Neil
Guest
Flares are good television news headlines, no one mentions 81 evicted from the rugby 7's. Before rugby types start laying in to me, I am not against your sport but just highlighting the incongruity football has to deal with. The harsh reality of the sporting landscape is that football has to be as pure as driven snow, as Saintly as Mother Theresa, so flare lighting has to be severely dealt with. Other sports will receive absolution when they transgress, we will not and we have to live with it, it is not going to change.