It was a story that stunned Australia’s football community.
A piece published in Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph exposed the identities of the A-League’s banned fans – most of whom had no criminal convictions whatsoever.
Indeed, the article was both shocking, distressing – outrageous, testing ethical boundaries. It was a kick in the teeth to a family that has, for so long, copped plenty of criticism from the Australian media.
Some of those named were not banned at all. Some were minors. What did they all have in common? None had access to a proper appeals process, a factor that would later form the crux of the issue at hand.
Then, the fallout.
As fans pleaded for Football Federation Australia (FFA) to publicly defend them, the governing body sat on its hands. Its attempts at appeasing its constituents was inadequate.
As the hole grew deeper and deeper, the fans rallied in the greatest show of unity ever seen in Australian football. Then, a result.
Copa90 told their story and how the A-League’s active supporters changed the game for the better.
Football is nothing without the fans.
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