In football, the saying that no player or manager is bigger than the club is often thrown about. It is a legitimate argument, however it should also be attributed to the fans.
Without the fans there would be no football in its current guise. They are the lifeblood of the club. Yet without football, what becomes of the fans?
Yesterday, Football Federation Australia handed the Western Sydney Wanderers a $50,000 fine and suspended three-point penalty as a result of the club’s away supporters letting off a number of flares during a visit to Melbourne.
More football:
» Wanderers will become top dogs, but mischief makers must pull their heads in
» Wanderers guilty: Fined $50,000 and docked three competition points
» FFA talking tough could be rough for Wanderers
» It’s time for A-League supporters to unite against flares
» A-League fans have shot themselves in the foot
The punishment did not go far enough, or was at least misdirected, it seems.
The Red and Black Bloc’s response to the sanctions was nothing short of despicable.
“The RBB does not encourage anyone to participate in any prohibited activity, and those who have, have done so at their own risk. The consequences are known to all. The RBB supports the notion of personal choice as per our representation at the senate hearing late last year,” a Facebook statement read.
“It was agreed that flare use has been prevalent in Australia before the Wanderers came along and is not an issue that is unique to us,” the statement continued.
“The incident at Melbourne over the weekend led to the general consensus on the night that this issue has been exacerbated in the media, and that if it was not flare use, the Wanderers fan-base would have been targeted over other issues.”
Ich kann nicht mehr…
I love the RBB, what they have brought to the A-League has pushed other club’s active support to new levels. The vibrancy, colour and passion that has emerged from nothing is a fantastic story. That story is one of the drawcards for Australian football.
Watching them in action live – as a sideshow mind you, not the main event – is a pleasure.
Yet their insistence on playing the victim card is getting old. And judging by the majority of replies on their Facebook post, many football fans share that sentiment.
The perpetrators last weekend were in a minority. They can only be branded narcissistic fools more concerned with their own rep in the ultra world than the club they claim to support.
However, more disappointing has been the RBB leadership’s response, even though it was sadly predictable. Despite widespread condemnation from their own support base at the use of flares last weekend, they failed to take a huge opportunity to make a stand for the good of the game.
Their statement at best claimed indifference to flare use, at worst sneakily condoned them.
Flares have no place in Australian football. Not because anyone is trying to Anglicise the game, not because football fans give a shit about the mainstream media seeing sense, not because we need to grovel at the feet of the neutrals who have not yet discovered the beautiful game.
Flares are illegal outside maritime use, it is pretty simple.
And their use is only going to hurt A-League clubs, which means those who continue ripping have little pride in their own team.
The FFA imposed a suspended three-point penalty, though perhaps they should have carried out the initial threat and actually docked points, because it has not had the desired effect.
A more fitting punishment would have been to ban away support from the Wanderers’ next trip away from Wanderland, or to close the RBB for one or more home fixtures. As it stands the club has lost out, not the fans, and the leadership of the RBB appears disinterested.
This is not a problem solely attributed to the Wanderers, it is a double standard that the FFA did not also impose a punishment for the flare let off in the Victory support last weekend. These sanctions must be handed out for every flare incident in order to remain credible.
But hopefully the majority of Western Sydney fans have come to the realisation that the flare element has to be extinguished. Continued use will only harm the game.
The RBB has been beyond fantastic for this fledgling league. They have passionately represented Australian football internationally during the club’s amazing run in the Asian Champions League and they are a facet of our sport all fans should be proud of.
Yet that pride is starting to turn into embarrassment. This rogue element is not necessary.
And all the RBB’s statement has shown is that the current leadership is unwilling to self-police the minority thug element that is creeping into their support base. It is extremely disappointing.
In the same statement, they also noted the date for the FFA’s decision on reviewing the banning process and the possible introduction of an appeals system.
The looming date is February 19, the Sydney derby is the next day on February 20.
RBB’s leadership made it clear they would boycott the game if their demands from last year are not met, but how many fans will stand by them after this debacle?
Active support had the backing of the majority late last year, but they may now be pushing a very shaky line.
A good relationship between FFA and active support, developing a degree of respect and trust, should be the wish of every stakeholder. Yet both parties must meet in the middle, it can not be a one-way street.
Complain about rising ticket prices (A-League general admission is more than a Bundesliga equivalent), you have our support, fight over heavy-handed, draconian security, we’re on board.
But fail to address the illegal misuse of flares and expect unwavering support in return? You’re having a laugh.
The RBB is losing credibility, and it must realise that. Australian football fans have supported them during the active support stoush with the FFA, but their response to the recent sanctions for flare use – which has harmed the club, not the wannabe ultras – was piss weak.
No one is singing with you on this one, RBB, not even the majority of your own fans.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Perhaps we 'scale' the issue by the number of police assigned to 'escort' supporter groups to venues. On this front the soccer wins easily.
Boban Fett
Guest
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but are there people in the west of Sydney who obvously follow football and are not Eurosnobs, but want to see the Wanderers fail? If you grew up supporting Sydney Croatia or Marconi and you see the Wanderers come along and take all the press and potential new fans how would you feel and wouldn't you want to do something to stop them? I imagine there could be similar levels of animosity between fans of clubs like South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory. As for the flares, the only solution I can see to this issue is decriminalising them, like how Colorado decriminalised cannabis.
boutros
Guest
So there were flares at the melbourne derby last night - where is the response from ffa? I am not pro flares i am just highlighting the clear double standards.
The Magic Man
Roar Rookie
Sadly the messages from the RBB have become quite confusing and bizarre. One sentence they demand respect from the FFA yet next sentence they offer no accountability and zero responsibility, while leaning on the reference "personal choice". The statement of "personal choice" is baffling considering that this recent rhetoric is based on the illegal use of flares and detonators. Is this statement a smug deliberately agitating middle finger salute... or is it simply that this statement screams of a group that lacks direction and leadership? The leaders of the RBB either want to start getting with the program before the FFA come down with deserved draconian measures. The ball is in the court of the RBB. That's where they should want it. If the RBB really care for the Wanderers, then they need to stand up & destroy this antisocial element from within before it gives administrators the excuse to destroy the RBB. At the moment they're starting to resemble that old "Chelsea supporter group" that wore Chelsea shirts but really were just a group put together as an excuse to bash opposition fans. At the moment it appears to anyone who is not RBB and who is not an apologist for the RBB that this current form of the RBB, based on the latest Facebook press release, couldn't care less about their Wanderers club. Good luck...
RbbAnonymous
Guest
I am annoyed as well. I watch football Kaks, I am not interested in watching flares, booing, humping dogs, getting into fights, drinking my own piss, taking horse hormones. All those other incidents just require security and other authorities to do their job. It is the same with flares. They are the best placed to deal with the minority 20-30 people who partake.
RbbAnonymous
Guest
Is refreshing someones facebook or homepage going to change anything. If anything it turns you more into a hypocrite which is how I view the stance taken by the cove. They can say whatever they like they still get flares at away matches just like WSW. For WSW matches at Pirtek the flares are minimal but still inexcusable. The security measures are better which means more flares will be lit at venues where security is lax and non existent like Etihad. Your answer is full of contradictions and quite amusing. So my job is to look out for flare rippers and not at the field of play. Righty oh.
Woodo
Guest
You're right that a statement isn't going to effect much in a practical sense, but I'm not arguing that ever would. I'm saying that while a statement condemning flares isn't going to help the positive exposure that the code gets, a statement NOT condemning flares and indeed decrying a stance of 'it's a personal choice' in regards to an illegal activity is going to cause (and has) massive amounts of negative exposure for the club, their fans, and potential new fans. And through extension the fans of other clubs and the code. One thing the fan boycotts did last year was bring supporter groups and their structure / policies into the spotlight, the RBB need to realise that.
rusty0256
Guest
He shoots, he scores!
We've got a live one
Guest
Excuses, excuses. And that's all they are. This is because firstly, you seem to recall everything else that happen at the game in great detail except the most important detail, who lit the flares. You say you were only watching the game but you seem to know a lot about what the security was doing (maybe you were a look out for the flare holders) And two, you keep shifting the blame, Blah blah blah, security should be doing a better job, blah blah blah, why aren't they they picking on other active supporter groups blah blah blah. So tell me, which supporter group as causing trouble at match in question again? And what supporter group would make the ground securities job a lot easier if, shock horror, they didn't actually bring flares to games in the first place. Instead of playing the victim card, you could firstly, ask to the RBB to refresh the fan web site, Get rid of the hooligan edge to it like removing the flares in the video on the home page for a start.. And secondary, go to their Facebook page, and using you real name so they know your part of the RBB, denounce the statement they just released and call for reform on flare throwing with in the group. This is unless you fear reprisal, from this so called family friendly and inclusive bunch you're so fond of. But i bet you won't do any of these things, and the excuses will just keep flowing.
Kaks
Roar Guru
RBBA - the issue has gotten to a point where it now directly affects the club. The RBB are supporters of the club, instead of being indifferent about it and allowing an environment to remain where flare use isnt seen as a bad thing, they should condemn the use of flares and create an atmosphere where flares are seen as the antichrist. Again, this has now gotten to a point where it directly affects the club. Being indifferent about something that affects the club is not a great look at all and will annoy A LOT of wanderers members who have for so long stuck up for the RBB.
RbbAnonymous
Guest
Agghhh so you prefer a statement like from other active supporters like SFC, the cove. Why? So they can feel a wry smugness that they are doing something. Their statements and words mean nothing either. They say they might condemn the actions but have things really changed. They still had flares at the derby at Pirtek, No one handed in. They had 50 spectators go on the field. No one self policing again. More serious allegations like a stabbing incident in a nearby pub. Once again nothing. So do you want a statement? Then what.
RbbAnonymous
Guest
Accountable for what, some other idiots actions. An idiot I am not paying attention to because I am doing tje right thing chanting, looking at the field. They have better placed people than me to do that. They are called police and security.
Qantas & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Well I don't believe you---you obviously turn a blind eye to what is really an illegal activity.. That makes you accountable.
c
Guest
i would be too scared to dob in someone with a detonator
marron
Roar Guru
While they've always worked with the club and successfully so with pretty much the same statement known well to the club there's plenty.
c
Guest
i am about 90 % sure that they will not finish top as it is highly likley that they will have points deducted because we know why
RbbAnonymous
Guest
Well you said it. You dont know.
Woodo
Guest
It's worth a lot in terms of how the club, media, supporters from other clubs, and potential new Wanderers supporters/fringe supporters view the RBB and thus the Wanderers (and through extension the A-League and the sport in general). A-League clubs, more than any other code in this country, have an identity that is very closely tied to their active support groups. The indifference in the RBB statement today says when you read between the lines that to keep the peace within their own group the RBB supremos were not able to come out swinging against flares. And that's not a good look mate, not for any of us.
rasty
Guest
Premium drongo, most know you do not represent the mainstream of soccer followers, however recent events involving the Rbb would suggest there is a greater undercurrent of stupidity then previously sanctioned?
Punter
Guest
I have no idea what big footy is, but I presume with you interested in it, this is something to do with the sport you like, then so not surprising, I think if you visit the Australian Liverpool forum, you would struggle to find many posts on those same 9 clubs.