Leichhardt Oval hill exposes ‘disgusting’ football disgrace that simply must end

The nostalgic sight on the field during the Wests Tigers’ stunning win over the Sharks has been sullied by scenes off the field.

The incredible scenes have been sullied. Photo: Tom Parrish

The Wests Tigers’ stunning 32-6 victory over the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night was as nostalgic as it gets as the club claimed its first win of the Benji Marshall era.

Sure, the stadium is falling apart and the hill is nearly devoid of kids and seniors, but it was a throwback to the glory days of the Balmain Tigers as the reigning wooden spooners showed they had teeth.

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But while the scenes at the most suburban of suburban rugby league stadiums were a thing of beauty, News Corp reporter Eliza Barr has exposed the ugly underbelly of the win.

While the footy world was wrapped up in the Tigers’ breakthrough win, Inner West Courier reporter Barr hit out at a group of Tigers fans.

“I’m on the hill at Leichhardt Oval right now and the disgusting, misogynistic, violent and offensive language we are being subjected to by a specific handful of male Tigers fans right now is so reprehensible and vile I can’t tell you,” Barr tweeted on Saturday.

She also hit out at fans who told her she should have moved rather than call out actions of the men.

She added: “The Sports Game is not some magical container where the rules of social engagement don’t apply because of boys being boys at the ball kicking show fyi. Get a grip. You’re embarrassing yourselves!”

In an opinion piece on Monday, Barr, an avid Sharks and rugby league fan who had attended matches since childhood, called it “the most vile, offensive behaviour I have ever seen at a game”.

“In our world you cannot get away with calling a stranger in the street a pussy and a gay c**t, or yelling at them in another language based on their ethnic appearance,” she wrote.

“It would be entirely unacceptable to start singing made-up lyrics referring to sexually assaulting women or rough-housing so much you nearly take out the people around you.

“Yet this is what I witnessed from a band of obviously intoxicated Tigers fans on the hill at Leichhardt Oval when the Tigers played the Sharks on Saturday.”

A packed Wayne Pearce Hill should be a thing of beauty. Photo: Tom Parrish

She said both Tigers and Sharks fans alike were subjected to the torrent of abuse, reporting that security, stadium staff and police didn’t intervene.

Even when an elderly man was nearly knocked to the ground, while another one “addressed with a threatening and aggressive tone when he politely asked them to watch out for his small grandson while they were staggering around”.

“Shame on the men around them who laughed and said nothing,” Barr added.

“Shame on the school that apparently employs one of these clowns, spotted carrying on like a goose by his students who started calling out ‘yeah, let’s have a beer, sir’.

“And shame on those who – when I posted on X about this experience – said I’m soft, this is what footy is like, and I should cop it or get out.

“Men are using violent, offensive language towards players and about women and I should leave the game because that’s just how things are?

“Footy matches are not special places where men get a pass from behaving like respectable human beings.”

Barr also called out the lack of security and seeming lack of responsible service of alcohol.

But she added the issue isn’t just a Leichhardt Oval or Tigers issue, it’s a “game-wide” scourge and called for the game to make sure rugby league games are “safer environments for every kind of fan”.

The Tigers pulled off a special victory. Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Barr also reported the response to her reporting from the Tigers.

“We are appalled by this behaviour,” a club spokesman said.

“As we do after all games, we will liaise with the security firm, which is used on match days at Leichhardt Oval, and review any reported incidents from Saturday night.”

The spokesman acknowledged “myriad problems” as the Tigers continue their campaign to get much needed funding for the venue.

“Adequate policing of the Hill is one of many challenges at this venue in its current state,” the spokesman said.

“The level of police and security at games is determined by the projected crowd – the police presence was at the maximum number for Saturday’s attendance figure.

“Security can be increased and it would appear that this something we need to do for future games.”

Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said in a press conference on Monday that the club’s future might not include the stadium unless something is done with the venue.

“Saturday night was an example of where people get carried away with the hysteria of the crowd and the atmosphere and forget all about the conditions,” he said.

“The conditions on Saturday night were terrible … if something is not done very quickly about securing Leichhardt Oval, we simply won’t be playing here.”

Why do a few fans have to ruin it for everyone? Photo: Tom Parrish

The Tigers are only contracted at the stadium for the remainder of the season.

There are four more matches scheduled for Leichhardt Oval and five more at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

In the same press conference, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne called for 10 per cent of the $309 million for Penrith’s stadium be allocated for Leichhardt Oval.

“This is a fantastic ground that is loved by people throughout Australia – but the simple fact is, if we don’t get funding to make the facilities decent and safe, it’s not going to be able to host professional sporting events into the future,” Byrne said.

“Leichhardt Oval hasn’t received any funding from the government since Benji Marshall was in nappies. We are the only suburban ground, alongside Campbelltown, that is yet to receive any funding at all … and there’s no good reason.

“There’s a new-found hope among Tigers fans, but that has to be combined with saving the best parts of our traditions and heritage.”

Read Eliza Barr’s opinion piece here.

Originally published as Leichhardt Oval hill exposes ‘disgusting’ football disgrace that simply must end