Thugs Will Be Obliterated

SYDNEY FC and Western Sydney Wanderers have condemned those thugs who caused trouble at a friendly last night and will work together with their respective active fans to ensure no more violence occurs.

The two clubs have vowed to work with the NSW Police to identify the culprits and ban them from A-League matches after hooligans, purpotedly Wanderers fans, fought with Sky Blue fans and security at Tuesday night's Sydney FC versus Macarthur Rams friendly at Campbelltown stadium.

The match was overshadowed by a brawl behind the goal reportedly involving between 20 and 40 people that resulted in one man being taken away in an ambulance.

Tensions rose when a group of men started antagonising the Sydney FC supporters while chanting Wanderers and RBB songs.

The clash then broke out as a flare was allegedly thrown at the Sydney FC fans.

One of those involved was seen throwing a bin and attacking security. A person was knocked unconscious by an apparent rival before the men dispersed when police arrived on the scene.

A small child was also reported to have been hit by a rock, although he was belived to have escaped without serious injury.

RBB spokesperson Sean Herrett said he was shattered to hear of the events because of the inevitable backlash on the group but insisted the perpetrators were not known to any of the RBB's regulars at the match.

“If it's people from the RBB, we're disgusted,” Herrett told au.fourfourtwo.com. “Initial investigations say it isn't.

"All the guys off the forum who were in the stands are saying it wasn't us. We don't know who they are.

“Obviously we don't condone that at all. We're about being inclusive and family-orientated. Last week we had kids with us in the RBB chanting.

“We've all been digging around for any piece of dirt because we want to know as well. If they're aligned with us at all, they will be punted straight out.

"We just want to show everyone what the best of active support is and it's not that type of crap. We're just shattered, I don't know how else to put it.”

Herrett said he had already spoken with a Wanderers representative to discuss a course of action in identifying the troublemakers and protecting the club and the RBB's images, starting with a meeting this week.

A mobile phone photo of the Wanderers group would be supplied to the club and police to help identify the culprits, he said.

Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata has promised to ban any of his club's supporters who played a part in the trouble.

Pignata, who saw the events unfold, said he would come down hard on anyone found to be involved, regardless of who provoked who.

“I'm very disappointed with what happened tonight,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com. “A few silly fans ruin it for everyone and we need to stamp it out. It's 10 fans from each side that caused this stuff.

“I'll be speaking with (Wanderers CEO) Lyall Gorman tomorrow and the FFA, we really need to fix this and stop it from ever happening again. It's not what the A-League is about.

"We want families attending and there's a lot of people who saw that tonight who may never come to a game again. It's not good.”

The two clubs held a joint press conference at 1pm today in a swift move to crack down on such violence.

Pignata and Western Sydney Wanderers Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman both labelled the culprits “thugs”, stressing anyone found to have been associated with the trouble would face lengthy bans and were not welcome in the game.

“Sydney FC will not tolerate anyone who displays the type of anti-social behaviour we saw last night,” Pignata said.

“We will work with the police to identify those responsible and then work with the FFA to ensure they are banned from attending matches.

“These people are not football fans. They are not Sydney FC fans. They are not Western Sydney Wanderers fans. They will not be attending Sydney FC matches.”

Gorman agreed: “These people are not football fans, they are not a part of either club and they are not welcome in our game. They are thugs who go into sporting arenas to cause trouble and they will be obliterated from our game.

“I don’t care who they are, their anti-social behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated. Once the police identify who they are it is our responsibility to make sure they do not attend games and they do not take away from the family friendly atmosphere we have managed to create at Hyundai A-League games over the years.”

As well as promising swift and harsh action on the perpetrators, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers will undertake collaborative meetings with the organised fan groups of both clubs to ensure the impending rivalry is strong but friendly.

“Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers will sit down with the respective fan groups, together, and ensure that the passionate rivalry we all hope the Sydney derby evokes remains friendly,” Gorman said.

Pignata re-iterated the on-going approach: “Sydney FC fans are passionate football fans and they are just as upset as we and the Western Sydney Wanderers fans are by the actions of these people. We will work with them, and the Western Sydney Wanderers to ensure that behaviour such as this is removed from our game.”

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