This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 27 September 2011 at 7:00PM.
An image from the Capital Football Mens Grand Final. This was taken after the pitch invasion.
An image from an A League game early this year involving Melbourne Victory.
This is what the Victoria Police Spokesperson had to say on the subject of VICPOL responding to crowd behavior in Football (source is The Age - video content athttp://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/police-scared-off-by-melbourne-victory-soccer-louts-20110218-1ayus.html?comments=61 ) :
"Victoria Police have confirmed that some officers are asking not to work at soccer matches as officials grapple with the issue of crowd violence and loutish behaviour.
Superintendent Rod Wilson said a rogue element of Melbourne Victory supporters went to matches with the intention of causing a ruckus, but stressed the violence was not ethnically related.
Police were particularly concerned about the use of flares and physical and verbal clashes between rival supporter groups and towards police, which Superintendent Wilson said had escalated in the past seven matches."
"Security screening is expected to be beefed up at soccer venues to prevent supporters taking flares into stadiums, Superintendent Wilson said.He said there had been reports of 14 flares lit at a recent match involving Melbourne Victory, and 24 people being evicted at one match from a crowd of about 8000."
"
"I'm not saying police fear for their safety. I said that police were
reluctant (to work) because .... the policing of these sporting events is done
voluntarily," Superintendent Wilson told SEN.
"We ask people who want to volunteer for Saturdays and Sundays on their days
off .... all they're saying 'we'll come and work at the football, we'll come and
work at the tennis or the racing, we don't want to work at the soccer."
He admitted there was a flaw in the screening process that allowed supporters
to smuggle flares into stadiums.
"Yes, that is an issue that we're going to have to look at," Superintendent
Wilson said.
"There are a number of issues. Do the clubs adequately stand up and denounce
inappropriate behaviour? Do we see the players coming out and calling for better
behaviour by spectators? These are all the things we want to discuss with
Victory."
There are echoes of the CF Grand Final in this report. We need to learn from these situations.
The recent disgraceful behavior by a group of Canberra FC supporters at the Capital Football 2011 Mens Premier League Grand Final game, has given rise to a lot of comment in the football community. For all the details read the various posts and comments with each post.
It may be useful for some to see how far this has gone overseas. For those that have forgotten or never experienced the ugliness that infected the beautiful game here in Australia, and may not know just how hard the federal Government (s) and the Football Federation of Australia and through it the Member Federations (eg Capital Football) has worked to change the game and move it to a better place for the community, then this program serves as a warning. Gives pause for thought.
A clear statement by FIFA at the last World Cup Final. The 'No" to racism encompasses all forms that it presents itself in at Football.
As ever, you have to be ever vigilant on these matters. Unacceptable, dangerous, threatening and violent behavior can spark up in the crowd with or without warning. Clubs now stand at the forefront of maintaining the FFA Codes of Behavior which are reflected in the member federations competition rules. Clubs are responsible for the action of their supporters at the game - home or away. Where Clubs or member Federations find supporters in breach of the various codes of behavior and/or their competition rules on related matters, its time to act swiftly and firmly, it is not a place for misguided loyalty, no matter how well intentioned. For member federations who run events, the message is clear - do your homework, look for the signs of troubles, act on them, don't give any individual or Club the benefit of the doubt, keep a tight lid on behavior (and all the elements that affect it - alcohol, perimeter security, baggage search etc, removal of offenders from the venue) and above all, keep the environment safe for the football community and players. Yes, its come to this in the ACT and we have a Socceroo game and W League games ahead of us in 2011.
There is a lot to be learned ( or re-learnt) for the future in the current CFC supporter / Capital Football debacle. Its a long way from finished and it must be resolved in favor of Football.
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