The football world has reacted swiftly to disturbing scenes that marred Macarthur FC’s Australia Cup final win over Sydney United 58.
NSW National Premier League side United were the first non-A-League side in the tournament’s eight-year history to make it to the final – but the behaviour of their fans has swiftly been condemned.
Supporters could be heard cheering and even booing throughout the pre-match Welcome to Country by Erin Wilkins, with the disrespect slammed on social media.
United’s Cinderella story had led many neutral fans to put their support behind the club leading into the final, but the actions of their fans quickly soured the feelings of goodwill.
Members of the 16,461-strong crowd were also captured performing Nazi salutes and chanting fascist slogans, including singing ‘Za Dom Spremni’ – a Croatian rallying cry associated with the Nazi-affiliated Ustaše movement during World War II.
Ustaše signs were also seen in the crowd at Commbank Stadium.
One banner unveiled at CommBank Stadium bore a striking resemblance to the flag of Nazi Germany.
Largely red, it contained a white circle in the middle, with “EP” – an acronym for the club’s Edensor Park home – written in the circle in black typeface.
The match saw Macarthur claim the title with a 2-0 win, both goals coming from penalties.
Bulls striker Al Hassan Toure, who was born in the African country of Guinea and has Liberian heritage, responded to the crowd’s foul actions with a strong reaction to his first-half penalty to give his side the lead.
Football Australia responded to the controversy on Sunday, releasing a statement condemning the behaviour, but refused to let ‘ the actions of a few cast a shadow over our great game’.
“Last night’s Australia Cup 2022 Final was by and large a celebration, full of colour and with a buoyant atmosphere where most of the 16,461 fans participated in a respectful way and helped create an optimum fan engagement experience,” the statement read.
“However, Football Australia acknowledges and strongly condemns the actions of a small minority of individuals who engaged in behaviour that is not consistent with Football Australia’s values and wider community expectations.
“Football Australia took steps during the match to address some isolated behaviours by a small minority of individuals, including facilitating the evictions of eight people.
“Football Australia is today assessing all footage and images available of certain individuals which are of concern to our organisation and the broader Australian football community, including the displaying of the “Hitler salute”.
“Football Australia is working closely with the management of CommBank Stadium and NSW Police to determine strong and swift action on any identified anti-social behaviour, which may also be deemed as illegal in the state of NSW.
“Football Australia also acknowledges that the noise level of the crowd during the Welcome to Country performed by Erin Wilkins before the commencement of the game reached unacceptable levels. We regret that this occurred and are reviewing all available footage and audio to further analyse the incident.
“Football Australia has been in direct communication with Erin Wilkins during and since the match and will continue to receive hers and the Football Australia National Indigenous Advisory Group’s guidance on this matter.
“As a Reconciliation Action Plan organisation, Football Australia is committed to improving the way we embed and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in our game. Although we have made progress with regards to this, the events of last night highlight the need for further education to be carried out within the broader football community.
“Football is for all, where there is absolutely no place for anti-social behaviour in our game or the community at large.
“Football Australia will not let the actions of a few cast a shadow over our great game, which is loved by millions across Australia.
“Football Australia will be holding discussions with Sydney United 58 FC about the behaviour of certain fans, which could lead to both individual and club sanctions.
(with AAP)
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Don't worry - I won't hold it against you!!! :silly:
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
Id suggest you look up the united nations charter against racism and find that soccer australia breached that with their de ethnicise policies...
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
de ethncise was the term coined by the soccer boss of the day around 1995. you fail to state the many other clubs run without pokies sucessfully without tv right s and money from soccer australia. Just from fans and sponsors. NSL was successful considering they didnt need millions and produced the best players in this country ever. a league is an insult to the game. it will never now become successful because they took the best people and clubs out of the game because of racism. 100 per cent.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
hahah dark days. NSL had the best era of the great game. A league has done nothing but continue to show how bad its getting. A professional game yeah right? The difference between nsl and a league is nsl had part time players only but produced world class players. a league struggles to produce just one.
kane essey
Guest
I agree with 100 percent on that, why are sydney united fans bringing croation flags to the game. However in europe i noticed fans brings national flags of there favourite as a sign of respect for that player. For instance when Brazilan Ronaldo was playing for Inter Millan, Inter fans would bring brazilan flags to the San siro as a sign of respect for that player.
Grem
Roar Rookie
No need to apologise, you were responding to the statement that other codes boo the welcome to country. You’re right, they don’t.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Sorry, yeah, I should have said that too. This is an extraordinary occurence
Grem
Roar Rookie
And it’s never booed at A Leagues, Socceroos or Matildas games. This was a first and hopefully last.
Rob
Guest
Most of the supporters in the lower stand behind the goal were involved in the chants/boos. It certainly wasn't just a handful of supporters.
criag
Roar Rookie
I can’t speak too much of the conduct of the crowd as I only saw the second half, but it doesn’t matter what you think about Welcome To Country ceremonies. I personally am not that crazy about being welcomed to the land of my birth, as it makes me feel a bit of an outsider. But the First Nations people have been here thousands of years and it’s about respect. I respect their history and the right to perform that ceremony and it should never be interrupted.
Grem
Roar Rookie
You forgot to tell us about aboriginals burning flags again.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
lol are you kidding? nsl averaged about the same crowds as the a league today. Up to the last official year of the NSL being 1995 before it become the puppet of racists. Australia has another 0ver 10 million population yet have the same crowds. Look at macarthur crowd. Where were they. A multi million dollar club that cant get 400 supporters there. Compared to an ex NSL side that had over 15000. A league started on racism and has no bright future. A league supporters are in la la land thinking anything different.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
made our point exactly as any good player would leave the a league. so they actually found one you talked about lol. i still dont think hes good enough but time will tell. a league is where players go to retire.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
lol growth potential of macarthur in 50 years time lololol. says it all about the joke of the a league. a league is pathetic everyone knows it. players go to retire and if youre good enough leave to go overseas. no good players stays in the a league
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
So its ok to leave a league clubs in when they cause fights and trouble in the streets like in the past? A league needs to kick out clubs that cause trouble amongst fans.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
no nsl clubs were created by english. i was talking about clubs further down divisions.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
victory caused problems yet they werent kicked out. there supporters thinking they are some sort of hooligans and causing trouble. I didnt see any fights the other day but i did with a league clubs
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
a league clubs are nothing like overseas clubs. A league is a joke.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
There will be plenty of people celebrating the collapse of the A league. Its a joke. 250 a league supporters versus 17000 ex nsl team supporters. What a pitiful excuse for a league. Millions wasted and for what watching retired players playing and one player that is good enough goes straight overseas lol. NSL had better quality with part time players without having to spend milions. A league is a waste of time and space.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Aidan, I have always said that when football unites the tribes, when NPL and A-League become "one football" we are going to really get some progressive momentum. Adelaide City, Bentleigh Greens, Oakleigh Cannons, Marconi, Canberra City, the list goes on. They dont bring the same culture as we saw the other night. Sydney United would make football even stronger with their inclusion, but it has to be in an inclusive, multi-cultural and considerate manner. I have no doubt there are Sydney United fans not happy about Saturday night, so lets get this sorted out, and get on with building football