There’s always a bloody small section of sports fans that fucking well ruin things for everyone; it’s why we can’t have nice et ceteras.
And for the A-League, it’s quickly turning into a year to forget.
The on-going stoush between league administrators and fan groups is continuing to boil over, reaching a point now where league officials are bringing the hammer down on A-League clubs as punishment for the behaviour of their fans.
The Melbourne Victory today has been fined $50,000 and handed a suspended sentence of a three-competition point deduction after fans disrupted this past weekend’s Melbourne Derby clash with cross-town rivals Melbourne City.
A small sub-section of fans let off multiple flares during the game – reportedly as many as seven outside the ground, with two being snuck into AAMI Park. Projectiles were also launched by the rowdy section of supporters, striking a player and a police officer. A news crew was also reportedly assaulted.
The fine and suspended points-deduction is identical to the one handed down mere days earlier to the Western Sydney Wanderers over similar fan behaviour; Wanderers fans let off 25 flares and detonators at Etihad Stadium during their recent clash with the Victory.
In handing down the sanction – officially for “bringing the game into disrepute” – FFA CEO David Gallop stated:
“The behaviour of a number of Melbourne Victory supporters last Saturday night was deplorable and cast a shadow over what was a fabulous game of A-League football. It’s staggering that these dangerous incidents happened just days after FFA had applied sanctions to the Western Sydney Wanderers because of the actions of some fans. The focus on fan behaviour could not have been more acute.”
“If there is any bright note in this situation, it is the refreshing attitude shown by both clubs through their CEOs, coaches and players. They are saying ‘enough is enough’. As leaders and ambassadors of their clubs, they want to be part of the solution.”
The Victory’s next home game is scheduled for this coming Friday night, when they host Adelaide United in their Round 20 clash.
Source: The Australian.
Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty.
