Melbourne Victory are the next A-League club in FFA’s firing line, and will have to explain their troublesome fans this week to avoid punishment similar to that dealt to Western Sydney.
Victory are likely to be slapped with a show-cause notice on Monday after their supporters ripped flares and wreaked havoc during Saturday night’s heated 2-2 Melbourne derby at AAMI Park.
Seven flares were lit before and two during the match, while some spectators also threw bottles at Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen after a controversially disallowed goal denied Victory a win.
Police also said a TV reporter and cameraman were assaulted on the way into the stadium, and a total 20 people were evicted.
The reigning champions face a range of potential sanctions including a fine and suspended points deduction, both of which the Wanderers copped last week for their outrageous pyrotechnics display at Etihad Stadium.
Victory declined to comment on Sunday, preferring to wait for correspondence from FFA, though coach Kevin Muscat said he was “fed up” with the offending individuals’ “mindless acts”.
FFA delivered their own foreboding statement, only days after fining the Wanderers $50,000 and handing them a suspended three-point penalty.
“Given the circumstances we found ourselves in after last week’s incidents involving a section of Western Sydney Wanderers supporters at Etihad Stadium, it’s staggering that some Victory fans chose to act in this way, chief executive David Gallop said.
“The spotlight could not have been more on fan behaviour.
“We expect to be able to announce the next steps in relation to these incidents tomorrow.”
Before the derby, frustrated Victoria Police warned they would shut down games if fans continued to cause trouble.
On Sunday, a police spokesman said the fact that the majority of Victory supporters booed at the bad behaviour showed the problem was clearly restricted to a minority of supporters.
“We’ll continue to have the game running, but as a safety issue … if that continues, the game is going to stop,” he said.
Despite the hype in the build-up to the Wanderers’ home clash with Wellington, Pirtek Stadium had a subdued feel on Sunday.
Only 24 police patrolled the venue, where there was not a single flare in sight to provoke FFA into triggering their punishment.
Tony Popovic’s team lost three points all by themselves, in a listless 5-2 flogging by a well-performing Phoenix highlighted by Blake Powell’s four cracking goals – and a Mitch Nichols consolation screamer.
It was the most goals the club has ever conceded, and means Brisbane hold onto their one-point lead at the top of the table following the Roar’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Friday night.
Adelaide surged into third courtesy of Sunday’s come-from-behind 3-2 defeat of bottom-placed Central Coast, while Sydney FC’s finals aspirations are in serious jeopardy after they stumbled to a 2-1 loss against seventh-placed Perth on Saturday to drop to sixth.
marcel
Guest
I hope they aren't using Flare Mules to smuggle them in for them!
SVB
Guest
"Anyway So if MVFC and wsw are eventually glued to the bottom of the table and flares are still getting ripped..then what?" That's an interesting question. But if WSW and MV are spending time down the bottom of the table and the supporters are getting angry it might be exactly what Gallop wants. I noticed there wasn't a lot of police presence in the game at Parramatta on Sunday. Strange after last week? It was almost as if the cops wanted the RBB to rip a flare.. Hmm.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Wait a second who you calling naive? , I didn't say this is "a few culprits".. I said "ban the culprits". Whoever they are. You know how big the terrace is right. I don't know everyone. I can't speak for everyone. I can't control what some randoms do. I personally stay clear of anything to do with flares. If one gets ripped the anti football nutbags on this site expect me to make my way through a heaving mass and start interrogations on strangers..or be a vigilante or make a citizens arrest. It's stupid. For sure the RBB thing was premeditated and dumb on an away trip. It was asking for it.. Whoever ripped the flares in the derby wasn't any smarter.. I don't do away trips so that should exclude me out of punishment there... But still my club will lose 3 points.. And at home well I'm there to watch football..I'm not an FFA/asio operative and I don't have eyes in the back of my head. Anyway So if MVFC and wsw are eventually glued to the bottom of the table and flares are still getting ripped..then what? What annoys me most is, I'm pissed off that my team mightn't win the plate because of all this..footballing concerns.. And the anti brigade are basically winning. Football has taken a backseat to the hysteria.
Midfielder
Guest
LOL LOL LOL Breaking News from 442 go Steady ... http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&m=2422449& LOL LOL LOL Eddie McGuire’s explosive flare theory February 15, 201610:51am GETTING too close to a flare has the potential to make your eyes water — but this is another thing entirely. Radio host Eddie McGuire has revealed the extreme lengths he understands A-League fans are going to, to smuggle flares into matches. Responding to a Triple M’s Hot Breakfast caller who suggested airport-like security should be installed at stadium entrances, McGuire had an explosive theory about why it wouldn’t work. “They’re sticking them up their jacksie, is what we’re told, (that’s) how they’re getting them in the game,” McGuire said.
Midfielder
Guest
H I am not suggesting he can take a back seat and say what a good boy am I... Just consider most of the media are sayings its only a handful.... that is no different to how the NRL and AFL are treated consider how this could have been covered as one AFL junro compared it the the Liverpool riots ....He is on the front foot setting the media agenda not reacting to it ... as was a reason for much of his previous criticism .. This is no small achievement IMO ... Its been the Football media leading the charge ... Hill, Bozza, Fozzie and everyone else in fcat many are saying he did not act hard enough .... It sounds like I work for FFA and see no issues with them which is far from the truth however we have many fights to win ... and honestly flares are not worth the effort... at this point in time...
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
You talking to me? I never said "I love flares". Egg.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Again, it doesnt matter as Sydney FC/The Cove have had their hand in the pie on multi occasions. Stop deflecting.
marcel
Guest
Have a Snickers Mid.
Ian
Guest
Notice any other type of problem at all these events you attend? and not a football problem relates to the media saying 'all of football' having this problem. not a few morons having a problem. do you say only league has animal issues or afl has booing the australian of the year/ assaulting a woman/ performance enhancers as issues? or the races and the cricket being a boozathon? just wondering.
marcel
Guest
???....you got some blood sugar problems there Mid?...or did you forget your medication today? My comments have nothing to do with the RBB...BTW im an SFC fan...but I grew up out west and had they arrived first I'd definitely be a member.... But you don't change teams...you just don't. As I keep saying, no one is talking about a crisis in Rugby...in fact it's almost as if their problems didn't even happen. Im not at all suggesting the a FFA shouldnt act...but their media strategy has been completely counterproductive. Ps. Go out an buy yourself a Mars Bar my friend.
Dok
Roar Rookie
Lol, comment of the day
AGO74
Guest
The point is you have consistent form on this issue. Unlike Sydney fc Melb city bris roar or anyone else really (well maybe not victory). Anyway.
SVB
Guest
Horto It's a very naïve thing to think this is a few culprits. You are telling me you don't believe that this is a co-ordinated thing with a lot of the active groups? Do you honestly believe the whole WSW away tip to Melbourne was not one big planned pyro party? Come on man. Although sadly I think this more of an RBB problem as I have rarely seen the Victory actives go the extent that some of the RBB has. In fact I don' think they have even done anything in Sydney when it comes to flare use. We know where the biggest problem is and it's embarrassing for me as a supporter of that club to say that.
Midfielder
Guest
marcel Just imagine if Gallop had said nothing last week and then quietly banned all those involved?..... The RBB would maybe be happy and the world would be great again with sunshine, lolly pops and sugar coated lemon drops... yes the RBB would be happy or at least not unhappy meaning Football is in balance again... all praise the mighty RBB all knell in the might and power of its presence and importance to the game.. how we ever managed without the RBB I sometime wonder how others find there way to the ground without the helpful RBB on street corners directing all to the stadium...
c
Guest
this is turning into a real SH@# fight and i do not think that this is a good thing
Happy Feet
Guest
"Then there are those who claim its all a beat-up or even joyfully proclaim “I love flares”. I predict those are the people who won’t be part of the future of the game in Australia." Exhibit "A" above. Take your photos' while you can, he's soon to become an extinct species.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Middy For a start, no, I'm not a self-styled "idiot attendee" and I think it's pretty blatantly obvious that I'm not defending them. I'll reiterate.. I.,.we., (football fans who don't rip flares and have nothing to do with them) shouldn't be dragged into a fight that we have nothing to do with... This is a fight between the flare idiots and the FFA.. Not the clubs and not the fans. On gallop.. If he did good things in the past, which he has, he can't and shouldn't try and rest on those laurels forever.. The work hasn't even begun for football here in aus.. We're just getting down to breakfast. Ban the culprits and move on. We don't need a Spanish Inquisition.
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Is true ... the rumour is he was wearing a yellow cape as well .... further he was heard to be signing nay they say although I can't believe such behaviour on the Coast he was chanting ... Beyond this he was trying to get people in the crowd [BTW the definition of crowd on the Coast may vary to the South Land] to join in.... Police have a photo ID kit and local papers will be running the photo ID on Thursday...
Happy Feet
Guest
When you don't even know or understand what you're saying Fuss, how do you expect anybody else to?
c
Guest
i am very confident that some idiots will rip a flare or two.