Manningham Council bans futsal at stadium due to interior damage
Junior futsal players in the eastern suburbs are crying foul after the fast-growing sport was banned at one of the region’s top stadiums.
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Hundreds of junior futsal players are crying foul after Manningham Council blew the whistle on the sport at one of its biggest indoor stadiums.
Play will no longer be allowed at at Mullum Mullum Stadium in Donvale because the ball was causing damage to the venue’s walls.
The council earlier this month advised parents and team organisers the sport would not be allowed at the Donvale complex unless they could stop balls hitting the interior walls.
In an email seen by Manningham Leader, parent Annette Felicissimo was told the council had worked with YMCA Manningham, which manages stadiums in the municipality, to find a solution or an alternative venue.
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“I wish to advise that due to damage caused within the facility from futsal competitions, council has worked with the stadium manager and user groups to find a solution or an alternate council-owned venue,” the email read.
“Unfortunately an alternate venue has not been able to be sourced … and work did not identify any suitable solutions (to damage at Mullum Mullum Stadium).”
Ms Felicissimo said the ban redcarded 300 players from playing the sport at the venue.
“It raises the question as to why plaster board was used (inside the stadium) when futsal was a sport included in the original scope of the project,” she said.
The council’s city services director Leigh Harrison said the damage caused by futsal also represented a safety issue to stadium users.
“We will continue to work with the competition organisers to identify alternative venues for futsal,” he said.
YMCA Manningham did not reply to a request for comment.
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