The Yellow Fever supporter group backed Durante’s post-match spray against Adelaide United’s Jeronimo and the refereeing in last Saturday’s game at Hindmarsh.

Fans vented on the group’s Facebook page and offered support for Durante, with Andrea Corrigan summing up the general mood: "Disgusted with diving cheats and v poor officials. Whip round for Dura's inevitable fine?"

About 30 Phoenix die-hards have already pledged financial support and fans have been urged to log on to visiting http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/freedomofspeech.

The A-League’s Match Review Panel will decide whether to uphold an appeal on Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund’s red card and if Jeronimo should be disciplined for simulation. An investigation will also decide whether the comments by Durante brought the game into disrepute.

The skipper didn’t hold back immediately following the 3-1 loss to the Reds.

"We got a few tough decisions against us," Durante said.

"I think the first one was offside from what I saw, the second one he's dived. He's a cheat. In my book, if he's dived, he's a cheat. I think the referees were shocking tonight.”

Fever stalwart David Cross said Durante simply “...told it like it is.

“He shouldn't get any fine," he added. "Jeronimo should be suspended for diving, Sigmund's card should be withdrawn, and the FFA should take this opportunity to come down hard on diving and accept that the referee had a bad night.

"But if Dura does get a fine we'll help him out."

And Cross had a solution for those wanting to stamp out contentious post-match remarks from players – give them time to cool down.

“There were a large number of incidents in that game that seemed to be going one way and I think there was a lot of frustration among the players and among the fans,” Cross said.

“And then for the captain to stand up and basically say what everyone else was thinking struck a chord with the fans.

“It seems a little mad to expect calmness from players after a game like that. I mean in those last five minutes apart from everything else that had gone on he received a yellow card that was at best questionable.

“Then you quickly shove a microphone in his face when he’s still fuming about those things. You put the player in the position and demand they make a comment but then you don’t want them to say what they feel.

“Maybe if you talk to them a few minutes later you’ll get a calmer reaction. But if they want to do it that way, and clearly the FFA and Fox Sports have come up with this, then sometimes you’re going to have to take the consequences.

“My challenge is that if you want those comments, sometimes you’re going to have to let things slide when people voice their genuine opinion, feelings and emotions.

“I know when I come off from a football game the adrenalin’s still pumping, the mind is still in the game and if someone asked me what happened a minute after the final whistle there’s no guarantee that it would be publishable.”

Cross said if Durante escapes sanction the money will be put towards football-related projects or returned if the donor requests.