Football Federation Australia has foreshadowed five-year bans for fans who lit flares before and during the Socceroos’ friendly with Greece.
Several flares were ignited in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday night as hundreds of fans marched through the city’s traditional Greek precinct towards Etihad Stadium to watch Greece’s 2-1 triumph.
Scuffles also broke out when police arrived, with reports one officer was taken to ground and a flare thrown into the path of an oncoming bus.
Prior to the match, police vowed to crack down on anti-social behaviour from fans.
However, there were no arrests during the pre-match incidents, which are being investigated.
A flare was also set off at the match, during which five people from the 33,622-strong crowd were evicted and one person arrested for hindering police after being refused entry.
“Police have expressed their disappointment over the actions of a small number of fans who have acted with complete disregard for the safety of other supporters and families attending the soccer,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“Letting off flares is a real risk to other patrons, especially children in the crowd, and is incredibly irresponsible behaviour.”
FFA slammed those involved and warned bans would follow.
“A few reckless individuals ignited flares in city streets and behaved in an anti-social manner,” an FFA spokesperson said.
“FFA reiterates its firm position: we do not want these people at football matches in Australia.
“FFA will work with Victoria Police to identify the offenders and impose mandatory bans of five years on those found to have ignited flares.”
The governing body has endured a busy A-League season cracking down on pyrotechnics and fan behaviour.
They handed Western Sydney a suspended three-point penalty and $50,000 fine after finding the club guilty of bringing the game into disrepute in February.
The punishment came after a small group of away fans ignited about 20 flares, as well as crowd-frightening detonators, during a match against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.
A week later, Victory were given the same punishment after poor behaviour at the Melbourne derby, when two flares were ripped, missiles were thrown onto the pitch and a TV news crew outside AAMI Park was allegedly assaulted.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Lets not confuse civilised with apologist, you being possibly the biggest across any board on this website in defense of the indefensible.
marron
Guest
Nah mate. Vicpol have always been even handed and this has nothing to do with keeping things out of the press....
Midfielder
Guest
WOW nay WOW to the power of ....
marron
Guest
Un surprising. AFL secret deal with vicpol uncovered. http://www.smh.com.au//breaking-news-national/afl-deputy-sheriff-in-police-deal-20101012-16hdq.html
MelbCro
Guest
What does it have to do with SMFC?
marcel
Guest
MF....too bad that welcome to country was invented by Ernie Dingo and has sadly been adopted as ersatz culture.
marron
Guest
Those "patriots" are boneheads.
marron
Guest
I sincerely hope that you are just trying to get a rise out of me or someone else MF because if not, well I'm a civilized sort of bloke so I won't tell you what. All Australians. Good one. For anyone else, that opportunity to break any fervent stereotypes comes in a multitude of ways, all the time, and has done for decades. The efforts are largely ignored. Especially when there's an opportunity like this to bash.
SVB
Guest
Thanks Mister Skinhead.
c
Guest
mf Simon got it right and the Greeks on the streets of Melbourne were just over exuberant as you would know it is their nature
SVB
Guest
MisterFootball So we should all changeout surnames to 'Smith', and hate on anyone who is different to us. Truly a new low for you. No wonder Melbourne Rules will never get out of that little hole it is stuck in south of the Murray. Keep that garbage down there.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
marron this is an opportunity for soccer to break out of its current stereotyping (angry young males with unpronouncable surnames) and start putting itself forward for all Australians.
Punter
Guest
Boom boom, the former Australian of the year got a big cheer when his face appeared on the big screen.
SVB
Guest
Casper What is a Western Sydney type of person? From what I can see there are no racial issues or problems in western Sydney with communities getting along together just fine. Maybe we should be more like those fine neo nazi specimens from Coburg in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Straya mate!
BigAl
Guest
??? Are you suggesting we "ban" them as in don't let them attend games or "band" them as with other wild things, so we can keep atrack of them ?
marron
Guest
Touché!
SVB
Guest
Get a whole stadium of white people to boo a black man. Sounds like something AFL loving Strayans would be into.
marron
Guest
Yes MF, Indigenous dances are usually very well received by true blue Australians.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
It wouldn't take Inspector Clouseau long to sort this out. Just guessing but I think SMFC won't have been helped in its aim for an A-league license. Over to Mike@smfc
Mister Football
Roar Guru
In fact, you may well have unwittingly come to the ideal solution. Instead of all this Southern-Eastern European me-too mimicry, let's do something unique and more relevant to this country, such as indigenous dances, lighting camp fires using traditional techniques, etc.