Restrictions to deter crowd trouble at South Melbourne vs Preston Lions soccer match




A POTENTIALLY explosive soccer match between South Melbourne and Preston Lions tonight has been restricted to just club members to deter crowd trouble.

The two clubs will face off in a State Knockout Cup quarter-final at Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park.

There has been a fierce rivalry between fans of the two clubs over the years, with a high-profile clash in 2005 ending in chaos as supporters of both teams ran onto the field.

South Melbourne has a traditional Greek-Australian support base, while Preston has Macedonian roots.

The last time the clubs played each other was in 2009, with Preston dropping below the Victorian Premier League in recent years.

After consulting with both clubs and security personnel, Football Federation Victoria last week announced tickets to the game would only be made available to club members, with no general admission on the night.

Preston Lions media spokesman Chris Terpos said he was confident the match would be played and supported in a friendly and competitive spirit.

"Both clubs got together and jointly came up with the idea of a members game and felt this would be the best outcome for both clubs, which was supported by FFV," Mr Terpos said.

"We've not had any contact from other authorities or intelligence suggesting any issues may arise."

Mr Terpos expected between 50 and 100 Preston Lions fans to attend the game.

South Melbourne general manager Peter Kokotis said he was confident the game would pass off trouble free.

Mr Kokotis said the decision to restrict tickets to club members would prevent any troublemakers from attending the game.

Mr Kokotis did not think the ban on ticket sales on the night would have a big impact on the attendance.

"The diehard fans, the club members, will still be there," he said.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Kate Fawcett said police had no involvement with the ticketing arrangements for the match.

"Police patrols will monitor the event on the night and respond as necessary," Ms Fawcett said.

totally unneeded and inflammatory article from the hun, great way to slander two teams that are being proactive in keeping their nose's clean. Regardless i really don't see why either club needs to take these steps, there were no problems or "EFFNIK TENSION" last time they played in '09 like paulc's minions would have you believe.

C'mon Joffa do your job ffs, put this thread where it belongs, in the SL section like you would do with any other 'positive' South article.....
The only fear I have about this game is that we'll lose to Preston, that's how shite we are at the minute...will be lucky to get 300 people there....
Liverpool are training at the MCG at the same time so the choice is easy I reckon.

Ch 9 had a camera van outside Lakeside last night, ABC tried to get in (without tickets) to "promote state league football" and were told by security to "come back on Sunday". Everyone wants to stir trouble.

There wasn't any, by the way.

Are they trying to prevent trouble or prevent ethnic slogans and chants? Is it possible for a South fan to admit the rivalry between the two clubs is at least partly racially motivated?

Wow a camera van, South is going places.

Plenty of camera vans in the old days, the place used to go off. Get a hold of Wadey's bio, some of you will learn plenty.

This lot were just there for the trouble and the shit stirring. "Maggots" is a good description.

Don't need Wadey's biography - have spent many hours talking to players and supporters who were around at the time. ABC and 9 were clearly hoping for a return to the 'good old days'... Must have been gutted that they didn't get it - and didn't even get the entertainment of seeing South come from 2-0 down to win 4-2 (with 3 goals in the last 10 minutes).

There is a long standing rivalry, which is based on different ethnic backgrounds, would never deny it. The issue is whether trouble at the games is based on the ethnicity or the club rivalry. The fact that we don't have street riots between different ethnic groups, but have had trouble at games suggests to me that its about the club rivalry rather than the ethnicity.

:lol:

Of course it's a nationalistic rivalry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_Struggle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_naming_dispute

Club rivalry. Haha. Good one. :lol:

[youtube]2iMJk5qga84[/youtube]

They couldn't even get through a charity match without ethnic rioting. :lol:

i dont seem to recall Altona Magic and South Melbourne having any brawls in the VPL or Preston with other Greek clubs when they were in the VPL or now since they have been relegated

lol yea because that article was such an over reaction and all ................................................ act like that then you deserve to get article and news like you did. Break down a fence storm a friend acting violent yep all gd stupid article is wrong.....

Translation please...

When was the last time you saw Macedonians and Greeks fighting away from a football match?

Why does it being a football match automatically cancel the idea that it's a nationalist fight at a football match?

An ethnic riot at a football match is still an ethnic riot.

Ch 9 had a camera van outside Lakeside last night, ABC tried to get in (without tickets) to "promote state league football" and were told by security to "come back on Sunday". Everyone wants to stir trouble.

There wasn't any, by the way.

Do you think a non-commercial media organisation was there to 'get a story'?