FFA to lift ban on national flags after club identity policy shift

Soccer fans in Australia will soon be free to once again bring national flags to matches at all levels as part of Football Federation Australia's relaxation of rules around club identities.

FFA will on Tuesday release their new 'Inclusivity Principles for Club Identity', which effectively repeals a previous law - the National Club Identity Policy (NCIP) - banning the use of names, logos or symbols with ethnic, national, political, racial or religious connotations.

The new principles still discourage mono-ethnic identifiers but they are not "enforceable, strict regulations", and leave clubs with the freedom to make their own decisions.

Former National Soccer League heavyweights Sydney United 58 will consider the merits of reverting to their traditional name, 'Sydney Croatia', with dozens of other clubs from around the country likely to do the same.

National flags are set to return to terraces in tandem with those throwback names. The Herald can reveal that FFA will now review the current spectator code of behaviour, which has been in place since the A-League's establishment and prohibits "national, political or racial flags or emblems" from being brought into match venues - except for those belonging to any international teams who are competing.

Sydney United 58 fans wave flags - without the Croatian coat of arms - at their FFA Cup clash against Sydney FC back in 2014. A ban on national flags at soccer games in Australia is set to be lifted.Credit: Brendan Esposito

FFA chief executive David Gallop confirmed there would likely be a "consequential change" to the code, but competition organisers would still retain a right to take action against any spectator if it's deemed a national flag was being used to incite hatred or inappropriate behaviour. "It has to be done in a non-offensive way," Gallop said.

The changes represent a significant philosophical shift from FFA, which introduced the controversial NCIP just weeks before the first edition of the FFA Cup back in 2014.

The NCIP was the latest in a long line of attempts from Australian soccer administrators over the years to 'whitewash' the game's ethnic past. It was viewed as out of step with modern multicultural values and caused significant backlash, particularly after some farcical incidents in the FFA Cup where clubs were forced to cover up tiny tributes to their heritage on their jerseys with tape.

"It's going to be about striking the right balance between acknowledging that clubs want to recognise their heritage, while still being inclusive and welcoming people from all cultural backgrounds to their games," Gallop said.

"The feedback from clubs was they felt comfortable that they could responsibly handle the balance. There will be an onus on clubs to handle that appropriately."

The club was founded as Sydney Croatia. A while ago that was changed - not by choice. That name is still chanted at most of our home games.

Sydney United 58 president Mark Ivancic

Sydney United 58 chairman Mark Ivancic told the Herald the new principles would pose a "difficult question" to clubs like his.

"The club was founded as Sydney Croatia. A while ago that was changed - not by choice," Ivancic said.

"That name is still chanted at most of our home games. The brand of Sydney United within Australia is strong, but definitely around the world, other countries including in Croatia, the club is still known as Sydney Croatia.

"It's something to really think through and put to the members. I don't have a solid preference either way. I will leave that for the members to decide and what the majority wishes, we will be supporting."

Sydney Croatia became Sydney United in 1993. Mario Jerman, Manis Lamond and Ivan Topic model the jerseys brought in at the time of the change.Credit: Troy Howe

One club which will turn back the clock is the Newcastle-based Charlestown City Blues. The NPL outfit took FFA and Northern NSW Football to the Australian Human Rights Commission after they were blocked from using the name 'Charlestown Azzurri', a nod to their Italian roots.

Charlestown's legal push, combined with pressure from the Australian Association of Football Clubs, prompted FFA to undertake a review of the NCIP. The club will now look to restore the 'Charlestown Azzurri' name as soon as possible.

"It's an antiquated idea that you can't name a club in an ethnic heritage style," club president Dean Crossley said. "We assumed that was something that FFA were inevitably going to have to change and momentum gained from a few issues we had in the FFA Cup, and we weren't the only club who had problems."

Crossley is not of Italian heritage - he can actually trace his ancestors back to the First Fleet - but said the issue was important to the club's traditional support base.

"I just have a few children who play within the club. There are still a lot of Italians still around," he said. "You're embraced no matter what ethnic background, race, creed or colour - it doesn't matter in the game of football. By no means does a name mean anything different."