Adelaide United calls for better protection of fans in extreme heat after supporters sweltered through 38C in Newcastle Jets triumph
Steps to better protect A-League fans in extreme heat need to be taken according to Adelaide United, after loyal supporters sweltered through the Reds’ win over Newcastle Jets and thousands more stayed away.
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Adelaide United has called for measures to better protect supporters in extreme heat, after loyal fans sweltered through the Reds’ win over Newcastle and thousands more stayed away.
The players union has also backed the push for flexibility around A-League kick-off times in high temperatures, to ensure the health and safety of those on the pitch and in the stands.
United chief executive Nathan Kosmina said Football Federation Australia rejected the Reds’ request to shift the start time to 7pm to provide cooler conditions for spectators.
It was a decision slammed by coach Gertjan Verbeek in the lead-up to the fixture.
Kosmina said clubs needed more say in adjusting kick-off times during hot weather, as Adelaide eyed back-to-back afternoon home matches in March.
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“There’s a pretty rigorous process in place regarding the players and monitoring of the heat based on FIFA regulations,” Kosmina said.
“Where there isn’t a defined threshold is regarding fans.
“For those reasons we said (to FFA) ‘it’s not only a poor spectator experience, it’s potentially a health issue’.
“But FFA indicated pretty early on that it wasn’t going to meet the threshold to push it back.
“I’m sure that we’ll encounter similar instances of heat and we’ll see how it can be addressed in the future.
“From an Adelaide United perspective, yesterday (Sunday) wasn’t ideal and it’s not something that we’d like to happen again.”
The A-League uses the wet bulb globe temperature to determine the safety of playing games in hot weather.
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In addition to ambient temperature, it accounts for factors such as humidity, cloud cover, solar radiation, wind and shade to gauge players’ risk of heat-related illness.
FFA confirmed the WBGT was 23.5 at kick-off on Sunday, well short of the 28 required to delay or postpone a match.
But no policy exists to govern safe conditions for fans, who turned out in their lowest number at Hindmarsh since just 6006 attended a 0-5 loss to Perth Glory in February 2017.
Professional Footballers Association chief executive John Didulica said the matter needed to be reconsidered in the interests of players and supporters.
“It’s imperative there is greater flexibility with scheduling, particularly during significant weather events or heat,” Didulica said.
“Allowing for flexibility within the schedule safeguards two non-negotiable aspects of the game; the health of the players and the standard of the competition.
“The players are also mindful of the vital role fans play in creating atmosphere and understand the discomfort they experience when supporting their team in extreme conditions.”
But Kosmina said venues like Hindmarsh, which is uncovered on three sides, presented problems for fans in both hot and wet conditions.
He said Sydney FC’s use of the similarly exposed Leichhardt and Jubilee ovals, as well as incoming Macarthur’s Campbelltown Stadium base, made the issue more pertinent.
“A simple wet bulb reading might not necessarily determine what the impact of the heat is for fans,” said Kosmina, who claimed the Jets’ turnout was about 2000 below projections.
“If the heat and weather are turning people away, then we need to make sure that there’s measures in place to make the viewing experience as enjoyable and safe as possible.
“As well as that, in games being played in extreme heat, the product in terms of the game itself is sacrificed.”
An FFA spokesman said the A-League heat policy had been developed in line with professional leagues globally.
He said it was appropriately applied for Sunday’s match and the Reds were informed of weather forecasts in the week leading up to the fixture.
“We also take fan health and safety very seriously,” the spokesman said.
“We will continue to work with our clubs and venues to ensure that they are provided with suitable facilities to support the sport in all conditions.”
Adelaide hosts Western United (4.30pm) and Newcastle Jets (5.30pm) on March 7 and 15 in its next afternoon fixtures.