The A-League’s most notorious active support group, the Red and Black Bloc, have announced they won’t be attending any more matches this season, including any potential finals matches for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The RBB has been at the centre of a number of controversies in recent times. In February some members were given year-long bans from attending A-League games due to use of flares, the Wanderers were penalised by the A-League for the behaviour of their fans.
The RBB released a statement via their social media channels on Friday saying they had attempted to be in contract with the FFA and Wanderers management in order to come to an agreement, but this had failed and they’ve made the decision to not provide any organised active support at the franchise’s remaining games this season.
You can read the full statement below.
As voiced in our last statement, we have given both the club and FFA time to hear us out in regards to the state of active support. Up until now we have not heard from the FFA nor club management. Only club staff have reached out and stated the following are proposed to be put in place for the remainder of the season
– removal of capo stand
– capo ban for swearing during a chant remaining in place
– potential dismissal of club marshalls
– increase police and hatamoto presence for remainder of the seasonAs a result, we have taken the decision to not attend games for the rest of the season. Whilst this decision burns us to our core as we live for the badge and colours of this club, this decision has been made in order to reconvene with all stakeholders during the off season to come back bigger and stronger next season.
It’s through these increasing restrictions that active support is suffering and nearing non existence. We encourage all to support the team how they sit fit, however, due to the increasing measures taken by various managements, there will be no organised active support during the remainder of this A league season (including any potential finals).
Kris
Guest
But people only attend matches because of the atmosphere created by active support. It is the only thing holding attendances up. Without it no one will go.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc, Kris
Kris
Guest
For all the talk of police and stewards attitudes in the UK it is worth noting that they didn't 'solve' their problem by going softly as you suggest. You can get life-bans in the UK for flares or smoke, or offensive behaviour. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40179670 So much so that is a criminal offence to even attempt to take a smoke bomb or flare into a ground http://www.fsf.org.uk/assets/Smoke-Bombs-Flares-and-Fireworks-Factsheet-for-FSF.pdf It is true that English policing attitudes changed, but pre-Hillsborough UK policing of football was not in the least comparable to modern Australian policing. England is actually an example of a zero tolerance attitude to bad behaviour in grounds.
Kris
Guest
Pre-boycott 7026 v Wellington Post-boycott 9266 v Brisbane
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
You said they walked away, so which is it? Clearly you don't watch football as you would see the WSU still around
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
So there is no quote, the NRMA didn't actually say it, the report is by Bossi who is basically the SFC PR department and has zero access to the Wanderers. You've claimed two yet the evidence you post is for 1 which actually contains zero evidence. So I ask again, why do you persist in this lie when you have been shown to be incorrect.
AR
Guest
The players could walk into the pitch dressed as schoolboy wizards, and if there’s an off-side, it counts as a “spell penalty”, meaning the FFA-sanctioned flares go off in front of the active support areas. It’s perfect. And best of all, no gimmicks!
BigAl
Guest
Yes ! - Pip pip and all that rot...
Nemesis
Guest
"Maybe next season Harry Potter Round could give the no-gimmick competition a boost" Doubt it. Nothing can save the ALeague now, except the Football community. But, if you think Star Wars round was meant to "boost" TV numbers, or crowd figures, you're got a very simple & naive idea of such business deals.
Nemesis
Guest
"Crowds will go were they want where they find entertainment….. As it is and will always be." And that's the key point of difference. I don't make a decision to invest time to watch Melbourne Victory the same way I make a decision to invest time socialising with friends. I make a decision to invest time to watch MV each weekend, for completely different reasons to how I make a decision to choose to invest time to watch a film, a Tv show, go to a restaurant, a pub.
TheBigFish
Guest
Why would they? Yes good point. The sports after over 100 years in Australia are where they are. So things probably will stay as they are. Crowds will go were they want where they find entertainment..... As it is and will always be.
Nemesis
Guest
Ha! You honestly think an Insurance Company - an organisation in an industry that will do anything for a dollar. An industry that is renowned for amoral behaviour, low ethical standards and outright inhumane treatment of people, made a business decision based on a few rowdy fans? Are there really people who are so naive? No wonder Aussies are so easy to scam. I laughed & I laughed.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Very true quartz, I like to break the mould and show the world that football fans too can be civic minded.
quartz
Guest
":... why do you persist?" .... again, some folk have a strong sense of civic duty. Grobbellar is a very civic minded chap
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
And from the same article: However, the club has not been able to separate itself from the actions of its supporters in the eyes of sponsors. Western Sydney University withdrew its signage from A-League games last season after an offensive banner was unveiled in a derby in 2017.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I quote from this Age article: Wanderers lose biggest sponsor after RBB misbehaviour 23 March 2018 — 9:59pm A small minority of Western Sydney supporters looks to have cost the club a seven-figure sum and potentially a marquee player spot, with the Wanderers' major sponsor set to walk away at the end of the season due to the behaviour of their fans. NRMA Insurance, which has been the naming rights partner of the Wanderers since the club's inception, will sever ties with the club, pulling the plug on a sponsorship deal worth over $1 million per year. It's understood the final straw was the ignition of flares at the Sydney derby at Allianz Stadium on February 25, which saw the club hit with a suspended three-point penalty by Football Federation Australia.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
That is a lie, and I know you believe if you repeat enough times it becomes true. The simple fact is you are lying. They have not lost 2 major sponsors as you claim. They haven’t even lost one. You claim NRMA and UWS. The fact that UWS is still a sponsor, they are on the major sponsors naming on the website, and if you were as interested in Football as you claim you would no they are the front of jersey sponsor the W League team. But of course you don’t know that because you don’t watch do you? NRMA announced almost 9 months ago they were not renewing, no comment then because they didn’t issue a ‘reason’ in the time NRMA have been sponsoring the Wanderers, Victory and Sydney FC have had at least two front of shirt sponsorship changes Brisbane at least 3. Funny how that never makes the news, but we have a change after 6 years. You are a fraud, you have been caught out numerous times, why do you persist
AR
Guest
Maybe next season Harry Potter Round could give the no-gimmick competition a boost?
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
A small percentage of Wanderers RBB are treating the club, the A-League, the FFA and the rest of us football fans with a lot more disrespect.
Nemesis
Guest
Why would they come? I don't care how good the AFL, NRL, Rugby, Netball, Ice Hockey... Ballet, Opera, etc. product is in Australia. I have absolutely no interest in attending. Rather go out for dinner, or to a bar for a drink.