Racial tension at Wolves match under investigation
08 Jun, 2010 12:55 AM
Football NSW general manager Ian Holmes has vowed allegations of rowdy behaviour at WIN Stadium aren't a prelude to a repeat of race riots that plunged the code into disrepute in 2005.

Holmes confirmed the governing body would request CCTV footage from the venue of Sunday's Wolves-Sydney United match in the wake of accusations against visiting supporters.

The host club complained yesterday that a group of United fans threw projectiles onto the ground near ball boys, damaged lighting in the northern grandstand and defied Football NSW by-laws by displaying a Croatian flag.

Wolves officials are also livid a pyrotechnic device went off in the northern grandstand seconds after the visitors sealed a 1-0 victory - despite the presence of two Sydney United-hired security guards.

The allegations came just six days before United play arch rivals Bonnyrigg - a Serbian-aligned club - in a repeat of the fixture that sparked racially motivated clashes and six arrests in 2005.

Holmes promised there would be no repeat due to stringent entry criteria for the Bonnyrigg Sports Club showdown.

"We'll have very, very restricted access, there will be no spectators from the away club and home supporters will have to be financial members," Holmes said.

"There will also be a strong police presence and the away team will be bussed in and out of the ground."

However, he confirmed Football NSW would investigate the WIN Stadium incidents.

"We would like to get hold of it (CCTV footage) and identify if there was an incident and, if so, who did it," he said.

It is understood fines, points deductions or bans could be enforced if the allegations are proved.

Supporters of Illawarra club South Coast United - another Croatian-backed club - are not alleged to have been involved.

The Wolves declared the episodes threatened the environment the club wanted to promote.

"We're trying to promote a family-friendly game and our supporters shouldn't have to put up with this kind of thing," general manager Cynthia Cuoco said.

"We had major sponsors there and more than 40 kids to play small-sided games.

"It's hard enough for us to attract support already."

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/racial-tension-at-wolves-match-under-investigation/1851832.aspx







Havent seen one of these articles in ages

Why is it always the same clubs?

What a load of BS if i have ever heard.

The officals at the front gate didnt let us bring in streaded up paper, because they said it will make a mess. We threw streamers onto the field when we scored. & that was it...

Ian Holmes is still around?

The Croatian flag they are talking about. That wouldn't be the one with the red white and blue background with the United logo instead of the Grb.

I heard they gave you boys some bouncy balls or some shit at entry, lol

yer a trade for shredded paper. just dumb. then they have the guts to say were threw projectiles at ball boys. :oops: :oops: :oops:

You fucking hooligans.

This is just pathetic. When will people grow up.

One a sidenote, I just came straight into this thread after seeing a certain mod talking about how racial tension and problems at "ethnic" games are pretty much made up by mainstream media. What a surprise he hasn't posted in here yet, eh.

Were you at the game. No. So STFU

Mate, in fairness I wasn't either BUT I played against Utd/Olympic/Bonnyrigg/Bankstown i.e. the clubs with a sizable ethnic backing in the NSWPL, and they were the only games where any crowd problems arose... And this coming from a club with no ethnic ties AND in the last few years.

[size=8]Now I am not for one moment saying it happened every year, or everyone was involved or that it was overly dangerous[/size], but it definitely happened and it appears to still happen...

I didn't really mind cos it made for a decent atmosphere at the match! All in all I'm an unashamed fence sitter in this matter..

I do think that at the younger ages there would be crowd trouble, heck I know from refereeing that there is crowd trouble with especially United and Bonnyrigg which comes from a lot of parents who are a bit over zealous. Also a lot of the time the clubs that have that ethnic background are the clubs which draw the biggest crowds which of course leads to a higher risk of there being crowd trouble.

But at the top level, and by that I mean the NSWPl, there is hardly ever any crowd trouble between those teams. Well not since 2005 has there been a major incident. What I'm saying is that although it is there occasionally it is no way as prevalent as some people on here make it out be. I mean like seriously they act as if there's gonna be a riot every weekend.

I just don't like being singled out as a club whenever something so miniscule happened and it's blown up out of proportion.

If it had happened at the SFS you wouldn't have heard about it. (except for the flag banner which was a club logo design from what I hear anyway).

Its just that it involves one of the big three clubs that the Football haters love to build up and shake the foundations with.

Projectiles = streamers

Flare= cool. Everyone except asthma sufferers and whinges loves a good flare

Flag banner= support.

At least Utd had 45 people down there, how many did wollongong have????

Mate, fair enough and I can't comment about what happen's BETWEEN those teams (or youth league for that matter), but the last few times we (I) played Utd at home AND at Edensor the police needed to be called and provide escorts to the officials certain players/wives...

In the NSWPL there was and is no need for it... Of course it isn't prevalent and maybe thats why such a big deal is made of it? Just a thought...

Like I said, what happens between those teams I can't comment about...

iv been to two bonnyrigg games and it was scary, and one olympic game where flairs were thrown onto the pitch