Flare warning: Police to lay down law to Sydney clubs over fan behaviour

NSW Police will meet with Sydney FC and Macarthur FC before their Christmas Eve clash at Allianz Stadium to warn them that fan violence, including the use of flares, will not be tolerated.

It comes following crowd violence in Melbourne on Saturday after Victory fans in the active supporters section of AAMI Park threw flares and smoke bombs onto the field during the derby match against Melbourne City.

Fans let off flares and smoke bombs at the Melbourne derby match on Saturday.Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

City goalkeeper Tom Glover was hit in the head by a metal bucket when up to 150 fans ran on to the field of play after Glover had thrown a flare back towards the stands.

Three men were charged on Monday afternoon over the pitch invasion. A 23-year-old man who allegedly threw a metal bucket in Glover’s direction was charged with violent disorder, discharge missile, intent to cause injury, recklessly cause injury, unlawful assault, entry to sporting competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.

The use of flares and smoke bombs in public has again become a concern following events at AAMI Park and their use at World Cup lives sites across the country earlier this month. The possession and lighting of flares in public spaces is illegal under Australian law.

AAMI Park officials told the Herald security staff had confiscated seven flares from fans entering the stadium on Saturday night as part of routine bag checks.

But a spokesperson said that “the only way to effectively stop flares from entering the venue is to undertake a physical search of each person”.

Flares and smoke bombs are only a few centimetres long, making them difficult for security staff to locate when dealing with large numbers of fans before games.

A spokesperson for Venues NSW, which operates Allianz Stadium, said: “The safety of all patrons, players and officials is our number one priority. Flares are prohibited right across the Venues NSW network and bans of up to two years apply.”

At least one person was banned from entering Venues NSW-operated venues after lighting a flare at the Sydney derby in November.

Daryl Adair, an associate professor of sports management at UTS, said an increase in security measures at future events may be counterproductive.

“A-League fans have for years complained that they are ‘over-policed’,” he said. “[Increasing police presence] is likely to lead to more disenchantment.”

“[Crowd control] went out of fashion because authorities in Britain tended to stereotype all football fans as hooligans and treat them as inherently problematic.

“However, inserting police on horseback and with dogs around the perimeter of stadiums antagonised fans, creates a tense atmosphere before the game even started.”

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