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Melbourne Victory avoid punishment over flare incident

Melbourne Victory have escaped serious punishment over the lighting of a flare at last Saturday night’s Melbourne derby.

A flare is set off during the Melbourne derby at Etihad Stadium last weekend. Picture: Stuart Walmsley
A flare is set off during the Melbourne derby at Etihad Stadium last weekend. Picture: Stuart Walmsley

Melbourne Victory have avoided serious punishment over the lighting of a flare at last Saturday night’s Melbourne derby, with Football Federation Australia praising their fans for helping identify the perpetrator.

Victory, already on a good behaviour bond over an incident involving flares last season, were handed an official warning under the national code of conduct after being issued a show-cause notice on Monday.

The club were facing the possibility of a three-point deduction or the extension of the good behaviour bond until the end of the season. Western Sydney had their good behaviour bond extended after fans let off several flares during the Sydney derby the previous week.

In making the decision, ­A-League boss Greg O’Rourke said Victory, like all clubs, had supported the national flare campaign. Its message was simple: “Flares are not acceptable — don’t be disloyal!”

“FFA has placed considerable significance on the Melbourne Victory supporters who voiced their displeasure and then helped identify the perpetrator, who was removed from the stadium and will go through the FFA Banning Process.

“This behaviour is refreshing. We look at all incidents on a case-by-case basis and take into consideration the totality of the situation and behaviours, and we noted some clear distinctions from the incidents last week at the Sydney derby.

“FFA recognises that the self-policing by the Melbourne Victory fans is yet another positive step and a strong public statement that fans, clubs and the wider football family were united in saying flares are not acceptable and show disloyalty to their club.”

O’Rourke said all clubs needed to remain vigilant concerning flares, and added: “We need to be clear that a recurrence of the incident where flares are ignited in the Melbourne Victory fans area may leave FFA with no alternative other than to deduct points from the club.”

• Western Sydney have confirmed captain and foundation player Nikolai Topor-Stanley has left the club to take up a deal with a United Arab Emirates club.

The veteran defender was granted permission by the A-League powerhouse last week to finalise a deal with Hatta Sports club in a move that signalled an end to his time in Blacktown.

Topor-Stanley departs as the most-capped Wanderer with 104 games, including three grand final appearances and a famous Asian Champions League triumph

additional reporting: aap

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/melbourne-victory-avoid-punishment-over-flare-incident/news-story/b43ceadfe9808273bf68e1afb0493848