Fans condemned for disgusting behaviour during Australia Cup

Football fans have been condemned over their horrific behaviour after booing during the welcome to country and displaying Nazi salutes.

Disgusting scenes rock the Australia Cup

The 2022 Australia Cup between Sydney United 58 and Macarthur FC has been condemned by those watching on over horrific behaviour.

16,461 fans packed into CommBank Stadium to watch Macarthur claim the 2-0 victory, but it was scenes from the crowd that had those watching on up in arms.

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As Erin Wilkins stood at the microphone doing the Welcome to Country, raucous fans in the crowd continued to chant and make noise throughout.

Unfortunately shortly after a chorus of boos could be heard reigning down on Wilkins as she made her way through the welcome to country.

Not that hard to respect a welcome to country ffs. #AustraliaCup

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) October 1, 2022

These Sydney United smoothbrains talking about "respecting history" with ethnic clubs yet actively booing the most basic recognition of 60,000 years of a vibrant culture. Pathetic. Absolute village mentality#AustraliaCup

— Joseph Cercone (@JosephCercone) October 1, 2022

Sadly things got even uglier once the game got underway as the cameras panned around the stadium showing the packed crowd.

NSW National Premier Leagues (NPL) outfit Sydney United 58 fans in the stands however came under fire from those watching on.

As fans continued to watch the broadcast, they were quick to point out what looked to be fans doing Nazi salutes.

Images of several fans with their right arm raised in an upward motion quickly began to circulate on social media with many disgusted by what they were seeing.

“Sydney United getting to the Final was meant to be a good thing. First NPL club ever to do it. Instead it exposed neo Nazis in their own supporter group. Hope the whole club is throughly investigated. These people shouldn’t be welcome in Football in this country,” presenter Jake Buckley tweeted.

It's probably virtue signalling but I turned off the Australia Cup final. I don't need to watch a final where fans are doing heil Hitler salutes and singing fascist chants. Hey @Channel10AU any plans to have your commentators condemn the fans behaviour?

— Some Sports Channels Ain't What They Used to Be (@crowdiegal) October 1, 2022

#SUDvMAC#AustraliaCupFinalpic.twitter.com/6RrnnHo2pU

— D.\niel Phimphis.\ne (@DPhimphisane) October 1, 2022

If the salutes weren’t bad enough, the crowd chants also came under fire from those watching on with fans labelling the entire spectacle “an embarrassment”.

“This is the worst outcome for Aus Football. What should be something of celebration, historic team, semi pro, making the final. But instead, we’ve got Nazi symbolism and salutes, booing of the welcome to country. What an embarrassment to the game and this country,” football presenter Michael Turner wrote.

Sydney Croatia fans singing "Za Dom Spremni" which is some pretty rank fascist bullshit.

Old school Ustase chant that got Josip Simunovic a ten game ban when he did it for Croatia.#AustraliaCup

— Mike Meehall Wood (@MikeMeehallWood) October 1, 2022

This Australia Cup Final should have been a celebration of Australian football, instead it's tainting it.

The Ustaše symbols and chants, the disrespect to the Welcome to Country and anthem. There's no place for it. Serious talks need to be had before we concretise the NSD.

— Tom Williams (@TomWilliamsPol) October 1, 2022

A FA spokesperson told The Age: “One of Football Australia’s core values is being inclusive and diverse.

“Our strength as a sport is our diversity. We celebrate that football is embedded in the nation’s social fabric and it follows the diverse story of Australia.

“In saying that, Football Australia acknowledges that a very small minority of attendees engaged in behaviour that is not consistent with Football Australia’s values and wider community expectations.

“Football Australia took steps during the match to address these isolated behaviours, including eight evictions. Football Australia will continue to gather information from the venue, clubs, and authorities on this matter, as anti-social behaviour has no place in our game.”