Western Sydney CEO John Tsatsimas says the flares issue requires a unilateral response by the game.
The Wanderers today accepted FFA sanctions of a $50,000 fine and suspended three-point deduction after the governing body penalised the club for the actions of its fans.
Travelling Wanderers supporters discharged a number of flares and detonators at Etihad Stadium in Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne Victory, sending smoke throughout the stadium. It caused play to be halted momentarily and FFA adjudged that the fans had brought the game into disrepute, issuing the Wanderers with a show cause notice on Monday.
Tsatsimas accepted the FFA’s sanctions, reiterating the club’s zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour. In doing so, the CEO called for a united response on the issue that has bugged the A-league for some time.
“We have always been consistent in our stance on anti-social behaviour and use of flares – that is one of zero tolerance,” Tsatsimas said in a statement.
“We have 18,000 members who represent our club and our region in a fantastic manner who are being tarnished by the few selfish and narcissistic individuals who are tearing down all our community has created as a club.
“Our players, staff and members … are all wholeheartedly affected by this outcome and as such we now require new methods and renewed support from our faithful members and fans who want to see our teams and our cub succeed.
“This issue is not isolated to our club and requires a whole of game response to not just reduce, but eliminate the incidence of flares and anti-social behaviour inside and outside our football matches.”
The Wanderers’ next game is at home against Wellington Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.
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