Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and South Melbourne SC are on a collision course after the state’s governing body handed down a sensational decision late yesterday.
FFV forfeited the club’s home Foxtel Cup match this Sunday. The three points and a 3-0 win have been awarded to visitor Melbourne Knights due to the federation's concerns over "patron safety and wellbeing".
“South Melbourne’s refusal to agree and adhere to FFV’s reasonable directions and requirements formulated in cooperation with all stakeholders, has left FFV with no choice but to declare the game a forfeit in favor of the Melbourne Knights SC,” the FFV said in a press release sent at 5.30pm.
“FFV is very disappointed with this outcome,” says FFV Acting Chief Executive Officer, George Angelopoulos in the statement. “We have gone to great lengths and have engaged all the relevant parties to put in place a plan that will ensure the very best arrangements for a match between two of the biggest football clubs in Australia.
“Football Federation Victoria cannot allow any member club to dictate terms that are in contravention to its directions and requirements and in the best interests of the game. Regrettably, despite our best efforts, South Melbourne has, despite ample opportunity, refused to alter its position, which now places it in breach of FFV’s rules and regulations and subject to further sanctions.”
Yesterday, South had announced that entry to the vital game – South is sixth, Knights are tenth in the 16-team competition - would be for club members only, “so it can act responsibly and in the best interests of the local community.”
When quizzed by www.au.fourfourtwo.com, South Melbourne spokesperson Jim Marinos said he wasn’t able to comment on the FFV’s decision although he said he hadn’t seen the press release.
He added that after tonight’s board meeting at South Melbourne, which was due to finish in the early hours of tomorrow morning, he’d be in a position to comment.
Insiders tell www.au.fourfourtwo.com that there was some crowd trouble about four years ago outside South’s home ground after a match with the Knights, where it's said a female police officer was hurt.
We also understand the security concerns were heightened after a brawl a few weeks ago involving Greek-Australian and Croatian-Australian fans following a water-polo match spilled over into Clarendon St, which is next to South's Bob Jane stadium. This follows tensions between the two sets of fans at January's Australian Open tennis event.
Both South and Knights are former NSL clubs. South Melbourne recently expressed a desire to become the second A-League club in Melbourne.
What do you think of the decision? Was the FFV right to take this decision or was it an overreaction? Should the South Melbourne versus Melbourne Knights match be allowed to go ahead or do you think there is a chance the game’s image at state level may be tarnished by the chance of crowd trouble?
We’d like to hear your comments.
“South Melbourne’s refusal to agree and adhere to FFV’s reasonable directions and requirements formulated in cooperation with all stakeholders, has left FFV with no choice but to declare the game a forfeit in favor of the Melbourne Knights SC,” the FFV said in a press release sent at 5.30pm.
“FFV is very disappointed with this outcome,” says FFV Acting Chief Executive Officer, George Angelopoulos in the statement. “We have gone to great lengths and have engaged all the relevant parties to put in place a plan that will ensure the very best arrangements for a match between two of the biggest football clubs in Australia.
“Football Federation Victoria cannot allow any member club to dictate terms that are in contravention to its directions and requirements and in the best interests of the game. Regrettably, despite our best efforts, South Melbourne has, despite ample opportunity, refused to alter its position, which now places it in breach of FFV’s rules and regulations and subject to further sanctions.”
Yesterday, South had announced that entry to the vital game – South is sixth, Knights are tenth in the 16-team competition - would be for club members only, “so it can act responsibly and in the best interests of the local community.”
When quizzed by www.au.fourfourtwo.com, South Melbourne spokesperson Jim Marinos said he wasn’t able to comment on the FFV’s decision although he said he hadn’t seen the press release.
He added that after tonight’s board meeting at South Melbourne, which was due to finish in the early hours of tomorrow morning, he’d be in a position to comment.
Insiders tell www.au.fourfourtwo.com that there was some crowd trouble about four years ago outside South’s home ground after a match with the Knights, where it's said a female police officer was hurt.
We also understand the security concerns were heightened after a brawl a few weeks ago involving Greek-Australian and Croatian-Australian fans following a water-polo match spilled over into Clarendon St, which is next to South's Bob Jane stadium. This follows tensions between the two sets of fans at January's Australian Open tennis event.
Both South and Knights are former NSL clubs. South Melbourne recently expressed a desire to become the second A-League club in Melbourne.
What do you think of the decision? Was the FFV right to take this decision or was it an overreaction? Should the South Melbourne versus Melbourne Knights match be allowed to go ahead or do you think there is a chance the game’s image at state level may be tarnished by the chance of crowd trouble?
We’d like to hear your comments.
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