Football Federation Australia have today announced the results of a review into the banning procedure for misbehaving attendees at football matches and events across the country.
After months of review after fan boycott action forced the FFA to reconsider their position, a less stringent policy with more recourse for those banned has been introduced.
The announcement comes after a second show cause notice was handed down to a club, this time Melbourne Victory, for fans pulling flares during a game.
It came after the discussion last week was dominated by the issues faced by fans and administrators at the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The structure will be imposed on all A-League and other FFA-run events. According to the FFA’s release, there are four key changes to the current procedure, which are quoted verbatim here.
· FFA has introduced a “Notice of Intention to Ban” process, giving persons facing a ban the opportunity to make a submission and provide evidence to FFA for consideration before FFA makes its decision to impose a ban.
· As part of the new procedure, FFA will provide access to evidence that it is legally allowed to disclose to the person. Where it is unable to provide access to the evidence FFA will provide a description and the legal impediment will be identified. FFA will continue to work with police, venues and other third parties to break down the legal barriers that exist to providing access. This may include the ability to disclose evidence to a qualified legal practitioner with appropriate undertakings.
· FFA has introduced the right for banned persons to appeal FFA’s decision to issue a ban to a three-person Football Independent Banning Appeals Committee (FIBAC) consisting of a pool of 12 prominent barristers and legal practitioners. It will be chaired by His Honour Judge Rauf Soulio of the District Court of South Australia, who is the former chairman of the Australian Multicultural Council, an arbitrator in the international Court of Arbitration for Sport and retiring President of Football Federation South Australia.
· The 198 persons who are currently banned, will be able to apply to have their case reviewed by the FIBAC if they dispute that they engaged in the conduct for which they were banned.
Active supporter groups throughout the country were consulted throughout the process, and last week said they were eagerly awaiting the results. A Red and Black Bloc statement reiterated that the boycotts could resume if they were dissatisfied with the process.
FFA Chariman Steven Lowy said the review was thorough, and he is pleased with the result they achieved.
“We were determined not to make a knee-jerk response to this complex issue,” he said.
“Extensive consultations were held with stakeholders, including fan groups, clubs, State Federations, stadia managers and State police forces.
“The result will provide a more comprehensive process to those facing bans because of anti-social behaviour and delivers on the commitment made by FFA in its meeting with fan groups in December last year.
“At the same time it underscores the paramount duty of FFA to provide a safe environment for all true football fans and maintains our policy of zero tolerance for anti-social behaviour.”
FFA CEO David Gallop said the new process would satisfy fan groups.
“It shows if we all work together we can ensure the unique passion and atmosphere at football matches is celebrated and preserved for all true football fans as we strive to grow our game,” Gallop said.
“This new procedure allows a person facing a ban the opportunity to put forward their case at no cost before the ban is imposed, greater access to evidence where legally possible and the right to appeal a ban to an independent appeal committee.
“In developing a new procedure, we have maintained our firm stance on safety at football matches. Our paramount responsibility is to ensure that every fan that goes to a game can enjoy a safe environment.
“Our policy of zero-tolerance towards anti-social behaviour has not changed.
“The last week has highlighted that the small number of troublemakers who discharge flares and associated devices, and those who are accessories to that behaviour, pose a threat to safety and our goal to grow the game,” Gallop said. “FFA, clubs and true football fans have been united in their disdain.
“FFA is committed to ridding the game of these people who masquerade as fans while lighting flares and other devices. We will also be implementing a national campaign that will clearly illustrate the danger flares pose to people at football matches and will consider penalties for clubs whose fans take part in this illegal behaviour.”
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"If they could fill Ethiad Stadium they would play there, but they can’t." No. It was a city home game. There aren't many more ways to say it.
lester
Guest
No instead we'll just have coward punches and king hits at richmond station between "a couple of larrikins who have just had to much to drink and are blowing off steam." Oi Oi Oi
marron
Roar Guru
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/football-fans-taken-to-hospital-after-brawl-leaving-richmond-and-carlton-clash/story-fni0fega-1226714839147 The Australian patriotic league is that way pal.
anon
Guest
"Oh youtube videos now? Gee whiz what will I ever find if I google AFL fight or NRL fight? Probably nothing because sokkah is full of hooliganZ and its UN-STRAYAN unluke AFL and NRL!" You'll never find two AFL supporter groups (GANGS) fighting in the middle of the street. It's never happened. If you look at the people in those soccer gangs, you will notice they are of a particular demographic. Interesting. Always the usual suspects too.
anon
Guest
So Victory fans can't buy tickets to a City home game???? Please. If they could fill Ethiad Stadium they would play there, but they can't.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"Melbourne derbies now relegated to AAMI Park. Oh how Association Football has fallen." Are you really that retarded? It was a city home game.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Oh youtube videos now? Gee whiz what will I ever find if I google AFL fight or NRL fight? Probably nothing because sokkah is full of hooliganZ and its UN-STRAYAN unluke AFL and NRL!
Dok
Roar Rookie
Fuul, please don't have a meltdown, soccer needs your types.
Dok
Roar Rookie
Ha ha, i love the soccer.
FIUL
Guest
"Well, 6000 people out of 30,500 decided not to attend." Wow... arithmetic is not your strong suit? Having said that, I understand subtractions may not be easy for the undeveloped brain.. - you have to 'borrow' & 'pay back' ... very confusing.
josh
Guest
Do you mean my demographic - Australian ?
yes man
Guest
love the Passion Fuss, keep fighting the good fight.
anon
Guest
Well, 6000 people out of 30,500 (20% of people with tickets) decided not to attend. They were likely put off by the intimidating atmosphere where imminent violence hangs in the air. Oh how soccer has fallen. They got 47k to a derby two years ago, now 25k.
FIUL
Guest
Your comment suggests you know FA about sporting events & ticketing. Stick to what you know. You are embarrassing yourself. SOLD OUT means there are no more tickets available to be sold to the public. SOLD OUT does not mean every seat is filled.
anon
Guest
"You are ignorant." Actually it was 25,500 in a 30,500 stadium. If it were sold out, it seems 6,000 were discouraged from attending (probably because of the intimidating and abusive supporter groups). I'm guessing it wasn't sold out. Melbourne City don't have 30,000 fans, so there were tickets available pre-game. Not all of them got snapped up. Melbourne derbies now relegated to AAMI Park. Oh how Association Football has fallen. Can't blame families from staying away.
FIUL
Guest
aa"What was the attendance the other night? 27k? About 40% less than they were getting two years ago." You are ignorant. The match was SOLD OUT. There were no more tickets available to the public. The stadium capacity is 30k. Crowds this season are 3rd highest in ALeague history & could even be 2nd highest by the end of the year. Go back to where you came from.
anon
Guest
https://youtu.be/34BTSVmuZCA I'll let others decide whether this is a "demographic" problem.
Kaks
Roar Guru
yada yada un-australian yada yada non-whites yada yada you dont see other sport fans misbehaving yada yada You can do better than that surely? Be a little more original with your content, you wont get many bites with this material especially when its so obvious. Its like amateur hour today. I even have to teach the fisherman how to fish.
anon
Guest
No flares at AFL games and their average crowds are probably 4-5x what they get in the A-League. No flares...EVER. This is a soccer problem. Actually, ,maybe not a soccer problem, but a "demographic" problem. A problem with the types of "demographics" that attended NSL games and now A-League games. The AFL and NRL don't get these "demographics" attending their games. Soccer will forever stay a game that is only attended by these "demographics" if they don't come down hard on the clubs, venues and fans.
Kaks
Roar Guru
But Waz this process is not just for the Active Supporters. Granted it will more than likely be used exclusively for fans who are part of the active supporter bay, I still dont find it fair that their will be more onus on proving your innocence instead of the prosecutors providing circumstantial evidence just because a handful of people in Active Supporter bays are uncivilised. I understand what you're saying, this process needs to somehow be strong enough and have enough power to ban the minority of troublemakers as easily and quickly as possible, but I dont think non-disclosure of evidence is right. IMO its unethical.