Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has denounced Western Sydney’s active support group as “juvenile idiots” and called for lifetime bans on Red and Black Bloc members involved in the offensive Sydney derby banner.
The Wanderers issued a belated formal apology to Graham Arnold on Saturday, a week after members of the RBB unfurled a tifo of the Sydney FC coach engaging in a sex act during their team’s 1-0 win.
Facing a major backlash from sponsors and Football Federation Australia, the club suspended the memberships of 14 fans for an 18-month period and threatened to shut down their entire active support area if the RBB don’t pull themselves into line.
But Postecoglou argued the A-League was better off without them altogether.
“It’s a bunch of juvenile idiots and we shouldn’t be talking about it a week later,” Postecoglou told ABC program Offsiders on Sunday.
“I know there’s people talking about the punishment and the timing, just get rid of them.
“They’re juveniles, they don’t belong, and it’s got nothing to do with the sport to be honest.
“I’m pretty sick and tired of it.”
Postecoglou said the saga had become an unpleasant distraction for the Wanderers, who were thumped 4-0 in their Asian Champions League opener on Tuesday before losing 2-0 in Perth on Saturday night.
The Sky Blues, meanwhile, bounced back with a 3-1 win over Melbourne City.
“They’re not supporters,” Postecoglou said.
“If they were supporters they’d be more concerned about the plight of their club than sitting there and trying to come up with something they think is funny.
“I’d like them to front and apologise with their parents sitting behind them and see how they feel.”
Postecoglou’s remarks come at the same time as a Fairfax Media report claims an unnamed Chinese Super League club are set to make an approach for the Socceroos boss’s services.
The 51-year-old has nearly 18 months left on his five-year contract with FFA as he attempts to qualify Australia for a fourth consecutive World Cup.
tully101
Roar Guru
but we can deduce from that UAE are more then capable of winning in Australia, yes it may not be against Australia, but still.
Paul
Guest
I'd like to see the juvenile elements of the Cove banned. The have the mind of an amoebae
Nemesis
Guest
UAE are playing Australia in a WC Qualifier. They don't have any history of beating Australia in Australia in a WC Qualifier. They have history of beating Qatar, Bahrain and Japan in Australia in the 2015 Asian Cup. So, if Qatar, Bahrain & Japan decide to play the UAE in Australia for a WC Qualifier then UAE's record will be extremely important. Not sure if you genuinely don't understand what I'm saying, or you're being deliberately obtuse. I hope it's the latter because I can't imagine anyone would not understand this basic concept of Home Ground advantage.
tully101
Roar Guru
"UAE don't have any winning history in Australia" but they do.... i fail to see what your point is apart from that
Post_hoc
Guest
I don't think anyone is defending it are they? (besides the idiots themselves) As the model who the offending article was moulded from, I have to walk the streets constantly reminded by it.
sydster
Guest
Can people give up on defending the over sized, deflated, polyurethane membrane publicly displayed in front of a 45K and realise it was just wrong. Otherwise we can all walk around the streets butt naked and we'll get on with new standards for our newly found society
Sydneysider
Guest
Sorry I should rename it - "The AFL, Horse racing, cricket" hour
spruce moose
Guest
Actually the Winx hour.
Sydneysider
Guest
Was this comment made on ABC's AFL offsiders show?
Post_hoc
Guest
life bans is in my opinion a massive over reaction, I think the bans handed out are sufficient. As has been said with regard to the 'apology' Will the cove now be held to account and asked to apologize to Victory for calling them 'tards? So chants are ok, banners not? What exactly is the explanation here? Like I said lifetime bans would be a massive over reaction
Nemesis
Guest
If you didn't understand what I was trying to say, you're beyond my help.
mattq
Guest
I think railway detonators are worse, but hey, that's just me.
tully101
Roar Guru
UAE won a few here in the Asian cup
tully101
Roar Guru
#inangewetrust
punter
Guest
I never left.
Bfc
Guest
Yep...and nor should it ever be easy. I think I'll back Ange and the Socceroos....
sydster
Guest
If wsw is absolutely serious about stamping out the knuckle head element within their fan ranks they need to come down incredibly hard on this "crowd" Unfortunately when the club itself via their CEO,and one of their "famous" ambassadors, Jamie Soward, on Fox tv see no reason to apologise and dream up all sorts of hollow excuses that this issue is not something the club can be held accountable for, then the alarm bells ring true that the perpetrators have little or nothing to be concerned about.Ange Postcoglou has stated the bleeding obvious - ban these clowns for life for the ultimate good of the game.Yes, we are sick and tired of individuals and it is with sorrow a well respected national coach who loves local football has finally put to rest anyone attempting to defend the indefensible
Nemesis
Guest
@Euromob Maybe you don't understand how the WC Qualification works, maybe you just didn't do any research, or maybe you have all the data but your analysis & ability to perform simple multiplication & addition are subjects you haven't yet reached in school. Regardless, after 5 matches played, and with 5 matches to play, 1) Australia is the only nation in the Group to not lose a match 2) Australia has only played 2 home matches, so they'll play 3 more home matches out of the final WCQs 3) Saudi Arabia & Japan have both lost matches (Japan lost at home) and they've both played 3 home matches so they've got to play 3 away matches out for the final 5 So, the question for the intelligent football analyst becomes Would we rather have a) Australia with 10 points and 2 home matches to play (like KSA and JPN); or b) Australia with 9 points and 3 home matches to play. Some background facts * Australia has to play Saudi Arabia, UAE & Thailand at home * Australia has now played 20 WCQs in Asia & never lost a home WCQ that mattered. The only loss was a dead rubber against China that was meaningless. * UAE, Saudi & Thailand don't have any winning history in Australia
Rasty
Guest
But not yours.
punter
Guest
Suggest you look again. 3 games at home 1 game in neutral ground 1 game in Japan. the teams we playing are not great travelers. However, the road is never easy.