Football Federation Australia has charged Western Sydney Wanderers over flares and detonators discharged by their supporters in last Saturday night’s game against Melbourne Victory, adjudging that fans brought the game into disrepute.
They have been fined $50,000 as well as a suspended three-point deduction due to the misbehaving fans.
Ten minutes into the game against Victory, a number of flares were lit in the away end of Etihad Stadium, causing smoke to soar over the pitch. Referee Ben Williams stopped play temporarily.
It could be costly for the red and black of Sydney, who are six points ahead of Melbourne City (third), Melbourne Victory (fourth) and Sydney FC (fifth). That gap could close to three or less in an instant in the case of another indiscretion.
The majority of fans in the arena reacted by booing the distasteful actions of the Wanderers fans.
FFA issued a show cause notice to Western Sydney for bringing the game into disrepute on Monday afternoon – Western Sydney had until 5:00 pm on Wednesday to reply, which they did.
Western Sydney Wanderers submitted their response to the show cause on Wednesday night. FFA CEO David Gallop said the “criminal” behaviour simply could not be tolerated.
“The events of last Saturday night and the coordinated misconduct of a section of Western Sydney Wanderers fans cannot be tolerated by anyone in Australian football,” Gallop said.
“The misconduct was not only dangerous and threatening but the coordinated and calculated way the fans behaved was a serious blight on the reputation of football and everyone involved in our game including clubs, members, fans, players and officials.
“The sanctions have been set taking into consideration the seriousness of the incidents but a clear commitment both publicly and through its submission that the Wanderers will take responsibility for implementing a clear strategy to identify and exclude these individuals.
“The Western Sydney Wanderers and the vast majority of Wanderers fans have expressed their disdain at the behaviour of the perpetrators on Saturday night and must now work together to rid their club of these troublemakers who threaten the huge support the club has brought to the competition. While the club has put a number of measures in place it goes without saying that more needs to be done.”
Such a sanction is not without precedent. FFA issused a show cause notice to both Victory and the Wanderers for bringing the game into disrepute at the end of 2013 after a violent street brawl between fans occurred in the lead-up to a game between the two at Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD.
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