Wanderers flares may cost club points with suspended penalty extended to season’s end

THE suspended penalty hanging over the Wanderers has been extended to the end of the season in the wake of flares lit at the derby.

A flare goes off in the RBB during the Western Sydney Wanderers derby against Sydney FC. Pic Mark Evans

WESTERN Sydney’s recalcitrant fans have been warned they are on the brink of costing the their team competition points after the suspended penalty hanging over the club was extended to the end of the season in the wake of flares lit at the derby.

Three flares in the Wanderers’ active support marred an otherwise superlative night for the A-League on Saturday night. A record attendance of more than 61,000 fans watched Sydney FC put four goals past Western Sydney without reply.

As a result the suspended three-point deduction, due to expire in February and dating back to the lighting of flares last season, will hang over the club until the end of the season.

It is believed that stadium footage identifies one of two people thought to be responsible for lighting the flares, but A-League chiefs have made clear that any further transgressions by Wanderers fans will have an on-field impact.

A flare goes off in the RBB during the Western Sydney Wanderers derby against Sydney FC. Pic Mark Evans

“The message is simple,” head of A-League Greg ­O’Rourke said. “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.”

The Wanderers are furious that anti-flare messages from the club’s CEO, coach and captain fell on deaf ears, and have not contested the extended sanction.

Meanwhile, Sydney FC have ruled out moving future derbies to ANZ Stadium, but have appealed to lapsed members to renew in the wake of the Sky Blues’ 4-0 defeat of Western Sydney on Saturday night.

Admitting their membership levels were well below ­target, Sydney CEO Tony Pig­nata said Sydney fans put off by last season’s seventh-placed finish should be re­assured and “come along for the ride” after the biggest winning margin in the history of the city’s derby.

With Sydney FC’s first home game of the season on Saturday, against the Mariners, and with tickets for the next derby on sale to members now, Pignata said Graham Arnold’s side deserved more support than the 10,300 who have signed up for membership.

“We have been a bit disappointed in the take-up of memberships as we’re about 600-700 down on this time last year,” Pignata said.

Despite the record derby crowd, Pignata ruled out moving any of the Sky Blues’ home derbies from Allianz Stadium.

Originally published as Wanderers flares may cost club points with suspended penalty extended to season’s end