Why Wanderers’ fans boycott is last thing the A-Leagues needs
As Matildas star Sam Kerr dominates headlines, MARCO MONTEVERDE and ROBBIE SLATER debate whether or not she is bigger than the game, and have their say on active support.
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As Matildas star Sam Kerr dominates headlines, Socceroos great Robbie Slater and football journalist Marco Monteverde debate whether or not she is bigger than the game, and have their say on the active support controversy which engulfed the A-League last week.
RBB STIGMA WRONG
RS: Let’s hope the bans of the six Wanderers supporters are lifted so the RBB don’t boycott matches. The last thing the A-League needs is active supporter groups turning their backs on the competition, and the lack of support for the fans from football identities is extremely disappointing.
Their silence is deafening.
MM: Well, some sort of compromise needs to be reached for the good of the game, but I don’t like the chances of the bans being overturned.
RS: If anyone has genuinely done anything wrong, and the police prove that, then that’s fair enough.
You want justice to be done, but I think the police made a mistake.
They overreacted.
Those fans had every right to go back into the active support area, and the brother of the leader of the RBB also had every right to point out to police that those fans should be allowed back in.
That man was then thrown in jail.
It’s a ridiculous situation.
The police generally do a good job and we can never take them for granted and should be grateful for the service they provide us, but their massive presence at games is way over the top.
I’ve spoken to people at the game who weren’t in the RBB, and they told me they won’t go again because they felt intimidated by the number of police that were there.
Having been there, I certainly felt that way as well.
MM: You don’t want people being put off going to matches for that reason. Why do you think there were so many police at the derby? Is there a stigma about football?
RS: There’s a certain stigma about the RBB and it’s wrong.
They’re passionate fans, and the banner they had was ratified by the APL.
Then it went pear-shaped when a few of them weren’t allowed back in the active supporter area.
That’s not fans being violent at all, so it’s no wonder the RBB supported them by leaving the game, which was a shame because there’s no doubt in my mind that the Wanderers missed their fans during the game.
MM: That’s for sure, but they were no doubt outclassed by a superior Sydney FC.
Although they are playing Western United, who are last on the ladder, on Friday night, I’ll be intrigued to see how much the drama of the past week affects the Wanderers.
RS: Whatever has happened, it shouldn’t have any bearing on their performance at all.
They need to motivate themselves for their profession, which is playing football.
Footballers don’t need to get involved with the politics outside the game.
They need to concentrate on training, playing and doing what they’re getting paid for, which is representing their club to the best of their ability.
And they also can’t afford to take Western United, who are unbeaten in their past two games, lightly.
KERR NOT BIGGER THAN GAME
MM: The Wanderers haven’t been the only ones dominating the headlines for the wrong reasons this week, with Sam Kerr’s arrest not what anyone expected.
That she didn’t inform Football Australia is appalling, and if it’s true that she called the police officer a “stupid white bastard”, surely that’s a form of racism, which Football Australia must act on.
Of course, she’s yet to be proven guilty and we’re yet to find out why she made the alleged comment, but if she is found guilty, she should be punished, and people are right to question whether she should be stripped of the Matildas’ captaincy.
No-one is bigger than the game, and FA must realise this rather than be worried about upsetting her.
RS: There’s no doubt what she is alleged to have said is a form of racism.
That’s clear and simple. The Matildas have stood up in the past against racism and discrimination, and Kerr was a big part of that but there’s no denying that if she has called the police officer a “stupid white bastard”, that’s racism.
However, I don’t think it should be regarded as a criminal offence.
Yes, if she did say that, it’s wrong and she’s made a stupid mistake, but we all make mistakes. You can’t punish everyone for making a mistake.
Even if she’s found guilty of the charge, I think it would be harsh to strip her of the national captaincy.
I’m a forgiver because I know I’ve done things in my life and my career that I’m not very proud of. Kerr’s an icon to so many girls and boys, and she’s been a huge part of creating the phenomenon that is the Matildas today.
No-one’s bigger than the game, and no-one’s irreplaceable, but you can’t take away the fact that she has done a lot of good for our game.
Her legacy will last long after she retires.
GRANT THE GREAT
MM: As has Sydney FC legend Rhyan Grant, who has just signed a new two-year deal with the Sky Blues.
At the end of that contract, Grant will have spent 18 seasons with the only A-League club he has ever played for.
He’s a true one-club man and he deserves congratulations.
RS: What a terrific role model he has been.
You don’t see too many one-club men in football.
I was lucky enough to play alongside one, Matt Le Tissier, at Southampton. They’re a rare breed.
Grant’s story is truly wonderful.
He’s carried himself superbly and has been a great ambassador for Sydney FC.
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