Wanderers fans cop flare warning

The police officer in charge of the Wanderers’ return to Parramatta has put “a small minority” of the RBB on notice.

Members of the Wanderers supporting group Red and Black Bloc light a flare at a match in February 2018 Picture: AAP

The police officer in charge of the Wanderers’ return to Parramatta has put “a small minority” of the supporters group the Red and Black Bloc on notice before the derby, after flares were lit on the march before the Round 1 win over the Mariners.

Widely praised for his proactive work with the Western Sydney fans, Assistant Commissioner Mark Jones warned that police would arrest any fans who light flares before Saturday’s clash at home to Sydney FC.

Though Jones emphasised that behaviour inside the new Bankwest Stadium had so far been excellent, he struck a frustrated note over the ignition of flares during the march through Parramatta before the Mariners game and before the friendly with Leeds in July.

Last month the avowed football fan praised the RBB after holding lengthy talks with the fans over the return to Parramatta, and admitted that police had previously “got it wrong” over their management of games. But Jones made clear that their revamped approach could not extend to ignoring breaches of the law, and said his officers would have orders to arrest any fans who ignore the warnings.

“In a nutshell, the activities within the stadium have been good, and likewise our overall relationship with the fans has been good,” Jones said. “The vast majority have contributed to the atmosphere the right way, and we’re looking forward to the derby being a massive event.

“But the flares have to stop. It’s really clear: we’re the police and letting them off isn’t on. These are marine flares, highly unsuitable for ignition in a crowd, and it’s something we can’t overlook.

“Doing so is against the law and we have to take action, we have no choice, even if it’s a small minority. If my officers see it, they will arrest those who are breaking the law. Absolutely no one wants this, we really don’t want to have to step in, but we absolutely will if we have to.

“This should be a fantastic game of football, the Wanderers are playing well and the atmosphere will be fantastic. We just don’t need people spoiling it.”

Jones held scheduled talks with stadium management, club officials and the RBB leadership on Wednesday afternoon, to discuss the overall strategy for the game, and will take charge of Saturday night’s game himself.

Fans are likely to be reminded that lighting a flare on the march, as well as in the stadium, carries not just a five-year ban from all football games, but also the potential of criminal sanctions.

Sydney FC’s fan group, The Cove, will stage its own march to the game, timed and directed to be well clear of the RBB approach to the stadium, with a sellout crowd expected at Bankwest Stadium.

It’s been nearly four years since Parramatta last hosted the fixture, and nearly three since one sold out. The “house-full” sign used to be a given three times each season, when football fanatics transformed Pirtek and Allianz Stadiums into cauldrons to rival Europe’s finest.

But not since January 2017 has every seat been snapped up. That was a scoreless draw at Allianz to mark the start of a gradual decline coinciding with Western Sydney’s three years wasting in the wilderness of Olympic Park and Sydney FC’s underwhelming move to the oval-shaped SCG.

Last season the Wanderers’ two home derbies drew 18,000 and 22,000 respectively to the 84,000-capacity ANZ Stadium.

But on Saturday every one of the 30,000 seats in Bankwest will be taken and the atmosphere is expected to be electric - and loud.

The Daily Telegraph