Wanderers avoid losing points for flare-lighting fans at Sydney derby

Western Sydney have avoided a points penalty after FFA opted for a warning over fans’ use of flares.

Wanderers fans amid the haze of flares last Saturday.

Western Sydney have avoided an even more disastrous start to the season after Football Federation Australia opted not to impose a three-point deduction after several flares were ignited during last Saturday’s derby against Sydney FC.

The Wanderers have been placed on notice that they won’t be given a third chance. FFA warned they “may well be left with no alternative other than to deduct points from the club” next time.

Having been fined $50,000 and placed on a good behaviour bond with a threat of competition points being stripped for a similar incident last season, there were fears FFA would come down hard after fans lit flares as the Wanderers lost their opening game of the season 4-0.

Instead, FFA took the softer approach, deciding to extend the good behaviour bond, which was due to expire on February 6, until the end of the season.

The decision was made after Western Sydney had been served with a show-cause notice yesterday following the incident.

After supplying a quick submission to the notice, the Wanderers were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. The club has indicated it will not appeal against the decision.

Wanderers officials are believed to be angry over what happened on Saturday night after they appealed to their fans to be on their best behaviour at the derby.

Chief executive John Tsatsimas, coach Tony Popovic and captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley put their names to a letter issued to the fans during the week, pleading for them not to take flares to the game.

In making the decision to extend the good behaviour bond, FFA indicated the incidents were not significant enough to take the drastic action of deducting competition points.

“Following the lighting of flares on Saturday night in a section of the Western Sydney Wanderers supporter area, the suspended sanction on the club which was initially enforced up until February 2017 will now be in place up until the end of the A-League 2016-17 regular season,” A-League boss Greg O’Rourke said in a statement.

“While we will always consider a range of factors in assessing the seriousness of any anti-social behaviour, the message is simple. If there’s a recurrence of the incident from last Saturday night involving flares identified to be let off in the Western Sydney Wanderers supporter area throughout the remainder of the regular season, FFA may well be left with no alternative other than to deduct points from the club.

“I have spoken with Western Sydney Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas and he has expressed his displeasure in what occurred on Saturday night and the Wanderers understand the seriousness of the situation.

“The club will reconnect with their members again this week given a few persons chose to ignore the communication and strong stance against the lighting of flares from John, coach Tony Popovic and captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley last Friday.”

O’Rourke said FFA was continuing to investigate the incident.

“We will continue to work with the authorities and the venue to identify those responsible and proceed with the recently revised FFA banning procedures to ensure the actions of a few do not ruin the experience for the vast majority,” O’Rourke said.