Wanderers take extraordinary action against active supporters over Sydney Derby shame

THE brandishing of this secret message and other unruly acts at a soccer match in Sydney has been treated as a blight on Australian sport.

Fans in the Red and Black Bloc at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

THE most high-profile supporter base in Australian sport has been shut down by their own football club.

The Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday announced to club members its controversial active supporter will be barred from the team’s home match against Perth Glory at Spotless Stadium on Sunday.

The club’s extraordinary response follows the ripping of two flares during Sydney FC’s win over their cross-town rivals at Allianz Stadium.

The two flares lit in the opening 16 minutes of the derby were not the only supporter acts to attract criticism from football commentators.

There have been reports supporters from both clubs clashed with police at Allianz Stadium and one Wanderers fan was also photographed brandishing a “1312” banner which is an alphabetical code for “All Cops Are Bastards”.

A photo of spectators inside the RBB zone during Sunday’s Derby.

Fans within the Red and Black Bloc supporter area were also spotted sporting “F*** FFA” T-shirts.

The Wanderers extraordinary action against its own supporters comes two years after the club was fined $50,000 and placed on a good behaviour bond after being shown a show-cause notice by A-League officials after a series of flares were ignited during a Derby at Allianz Stadium in February, 2016.

Western Sydney has since been threatened with the loss of competition points if fans linked to the club continue to bring the game into disrepute.

Wanderers chief executive John Tsatsimas first declared his intent to identify and deal with any fans involved in the act of lighting flares on Monday.

The club has now taken the drastic action of closing its own supporter area.

A statement issued by the club to Wanderers members says the supporter area will be re-opened for its following home game against Wellington at Sydney Olympic Park on March 10.

Wanderers fans light a flare during the Sydney Derby.

“The Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club has resolved to close down the active support area for the upcoming home match this weekend against Perth Glory,” Tsatsimas said in a statement.

“The Wanderers maintains its position that it will not accept offensive behaviour being displayed at its matches and also will not accept the illegal use of incendiary devices.

“Unfortunately a small group have made this action unavoidable. Investigation into those directly responsible for the lighting of flares is continuing.

“Members who normally attend in the active area will be subject to alternative seating arrangements that will not be active on the day.”

Soooo active closed, hope rbb doesn’t go the way of NT pic.twitter.com/EcJ47QVbRX

— La_Mitad_mas_uno (@jusxplod_h) February 27, 2018

Meanwhile, Football Federation Australia warned it will catch individuals who ripped flares in the Wanderers’ travelling active support bay.

A-League boss Greg O’Rourke thanked the 25,000 fans who braved severe rain to attend a thrilling clash only dampened by two flares lit in the opening 16 minutes.

“Last night did see flares ignited in the southern end of the stadium which is disappointing,” O’Rourke said.

“The FFA and is working with police, the clubs and ground security to identify those individuals and once identified they will be subject to our normal processes.”

— with AAP

Originally published as Wanderers take extraordinary action against active supporters over Sydney Derby shame