Not sure how much of this CFC press release will make it into the Canberra Times, so is the full text. You will note that the CEO Capital Football forwarded this press release to the NPL, having previously given permission for CFC to make it available to the Canberra Times. Can't say fairer than that.
The CFC press release is an interesting document - most instructive! Just not sure it indicates that CFC have come to grips with their situation. They are correct to say that it was a Capital Football event, a fact which I am certain has not escaped the CEO and Board of Capital Football. Just not sure that offers much comfort for CFC going forward. This is starting to get very personal, a fact that I have observed in a number of the comments to this blog that I have not posted, because they are little more gratuitous ignorant personal vilification. That sort of comment serves no purpose. You will note that the Croatian "ethnic" card seems to be played in the press release. An outrageous suggestion and one that might perhaps draw further attention. CFC's seeming lack of willingness to acknowledge full responsibility for their supporter behavior and the place it has taken them now, is a continuing and serious point of difference between CFC and Capital Football.
At some point Capital Football Board and CEO must meet with the CFC Board (or reps from both) and finalize this matter. From comments made previously by the CEO Capital Football that may this coming Monday.
As before, we will see what unfolds.
Canberra FC Response
The Premier League grand final held on 17
September 2011 between Canberra FC and Canberra Olympic was an outstanding
success. All but very few of the crowd conducted themselves in an exemplary way
and it is from a crowd of over 2000 at a community sports event that all
participants can learn. The club and social media, including the Canberra Times
website, have received effusive accolades about the success of the event.
Canberra FC seeks to correct the great number
of allegations made against it in recent press and radio interviews. Those
reports have been made only by Capital Football.
To be very clear the issue being raised are the
verbal abuse of an official (hours before the main game) and flares being released
during the game. None of these incidents are condoned by Canberra FC. The
participants in the abuse were wearing shirts of other clubs. The flares ought
to have been found in bags by Capital Football organized inspectors. There was
no violence in the crowd, there was no confrontation between the supporters,
there were no police arrests despite a sun seeking streaker
No invitation was received from Capital
Football to discuss any issues until after 5pm on Thursday 22 September. It was
only through the press and radio commencing on Wednesday 21 September did
Canberra FC actually knew of any official investigation was being undertaken.
The facts of the day have not been made clear
by Capital Football who should share in any blame. On 15 September 2011 board
of Canberra FC wrote to Capital football advising that some social media site
showed some intended disturbances planned at the game. The club requested that,
as it was a Capital Football sanctioned event, that Capital Football ensures
that there was sufficient. security
including police presence. Canberra FC has no authority to inspect private bags
or visitors. Capital Football requested four vested officials be provided by
the club “to look after their own spectators thus avoiding any confrontation
between the clubs”. That was successfully undertaken by both finalist clubs.
The two security guards provided by Capital
Football did not arrive until well after the commencement of the earlier
scheduled U18 Premier League final. At no time did Capital Football station any
security at the gates of the grounds to inspect bags of spectators upon entry
to the ground.
It appears that the CEO of
Capital Football is taking exception to the nationality of some of the founding
members of Canberra FC and the vilification of the Croatian community cannot be
tolerated in any form. Canberra FC has a proud history of involving and
welcoming people from every walk of life. As a community organistation is has
contributed to the spirit and strength of football in Canberra. Australian
international footballers have emerged from the club and the club hopes that
within its junior ranks that several other Australian representative will
emerge.
The club has now received, after the
announcements in the press, notifications of breaches of the Capital Football
Men’s League Rules. Capital football seeks to impose pecuniary and arbitrary
fines totaling $8,500, impose a monetary bond of $10,000 and deduct six
championship points from Canberra FC in the next competition. Canberra FC will
appeal those fines, bonds and sanctions.
The alleged verbal abuse of Ms Reid, or any
other person, is regrettable and if Canberra FC is at all responsible it
unequivocally apologises. The club will investigate the identity and actions of
6 identified people. At this time Canberra FC has not had an opportunity to
review the situation as it only received those names from Capital Football on
Thursday afternoon.
In view of what was a very successful community
football event, the actions of Capital Football have brought unprecedented
media attention to itself, has handled the entire review poorly and has not
taken into account the concerns of ground roots Canberra football.
Canberra FC
will continue to work with Capital Football to bring football to the whole of
the Canberra community.
23
September 2011
Authorised
by Canberra FC
This is all somewhat illogical and ridiculous! Logic would tell you that if Capital Football (CF) hire a venue and host a Grand Final, then it would leave CF responsible and liable for crowd control and not Canberra FC (CFC) who own the venue. If any action is to be taken, it should be against the identified individuals involved and not CFC. There is talk that these individuals were not even CFC club supporters or registered CFC players. They may or may not have been Croatian, but race should not have any bearing on the circumstances at present. What if the Grand Final was held at CF's Hawker enclosed field,with the same scenerio ocurring? Would CF then fine CFC? I think not. Rather, CF would look to fining the individuals involved and not the club! Surely that would be most appropriate and logicial thing to do.
ReplyDeleteIt looks rather like a vendetta for a large sum of money has been taken out on a 'rich' Club that was only participating in a game of football!
So, it then leaves us with the question …'What is the real agenda behind Capital Football's overreaction?
You are correct to say it was Capital Football's public event. And it too is worthy of careful examination.
ReplyDeleteCFC has a direct responsibility for is supporters at games. The CFC supporters who have been identified as behaving in an unacceptable fashion may or may not be disciplined by the club. However, Capital Football has an obligation to all in the football community to pursue these miscreants and to hold CFC to account for the conduct of its supporters.
Where the individuals are registered players the process is easy. Where they are not, or where they are not positively identified, not so easy, but perhaps the Police can held with that.
The fact that the game was played at the CFC home ground is in my view, on this matter, irrelevant. Had the GF been played at say Hawker enclosed or the AIS, and the behavior the same by these same CFC supporters - nothing, absolutely nothing would change in relation to Capital's Football's responsibilities, nor CFC's responsibility for its supporters.
To suggest this a "vendetta" by Capital Football is a malicious fiction. Not true.
As to the "large sum of money has been taken out on a 'rich' Club" argument, that's just as empty headed - Capital Football intended to charge whatever the venue.
Gotta just love conspiracy theorists. The real agenda, Sir, the only agenda, is to discipline those responsible for the unacceptable conduct at the mens GF and that includes the club to these individuals support.
It seems to me that some have joined other issues to these simple but important matter - supporter behavior.
The crucial point of difference between Capital Football and CFC is simply - CF require CFC to understand and accept that they have a direct responsibility for the conduct of their supporters at games. Until CFC accept and acknowledge this position, the only thing they do is invite the situation to escalate and that's a situation that neither CF nor the FFA can allow to prevail.
There are certainly a lot of other matters around this GF that need to get discussed. Some reflect poorly on CF's management, others reflect poorly on CFC. When will they get discussed and by whom?
Looks to me like the CF Board is about to earn its passage to the VIP rooms!!
I accept almost all your points Peter but what I have difficulty with is if for instance, an O'Connor Knights fan or a Queanbeyan City fan attends the GF, and consequently is not a loyal fan of either team playing. This 'fan' who, has no loyal ties with either club then decides to support Canberra FC. Then say that this 'fan' causes conflict and breaches the rules that have been set out. Is he/she then classed as a CFC supporter and therefore the CFC have to take the rapt for this individual? Or should the individual be chastised?
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