FFT to go over big brawl JULIUS ROSS | July 06, 2011 12.01am

FOOTBALL Federation Tasmania tomorrow will review reports of the ugly melee at North Chigwell between League One sides Metro and Hobart United.

The tribunal will hear witness accounts from Metro and Hobart United representatives and assess referee and police reports relating to the incident which occurred 11 days ago.

Three Hobart United players are expected to face sanctions, while the club itself may receive punishment for failing to control its spectators.

Immediately after the brawl, FFT chief executive John Boulous announced "clubs, players and spectators that are found guilty of violent of anti-social behaviour can expect lengthy suspensions and hefty fines".

Following the melee, Hobart United players came forward and alleged they had been racially vilified.

However, both Metro representatives and police who attended the scene have denied there was any racial abuse but this area remains clouded.

REIGNING Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy winner South Hobart will be undeniable favourite to advance to the final of the Statewide Cup competition after drawing League One outfit Taroona at home in the semi-finals.

Taroona, which has achieved a semi-final berth as a second-tier side for the first time since 1988, has become the Cup's giant-killers this season, after knocking off northern Premier League opposition in Riverside Olympic and Burnie United.

But it is unlikely they will upset South

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/07/06/243431_soccer.html

'Hotbeds' of racism HANNAH MARTIN | July 03, 2011 02.00am

THE University of Tasmania at Sandy Bay and the bus mall at Glenorchy have been labelled hot spots for racial abuse.

Migrant Resource Centre general manager Cedric Manen told the Sunday Tasmanian racism was rife in Tasmania, highlighted by tensions during a recent soccer match.

"Unfortunately racial tension is something that is still prevalent in the community," Mr Manen said.

"Around the uni and bus shelters in Glenorchy there are always reports of racial taunts and now it's unfortunately manifesting itself on the sports field."

He said many victims were scared to speak out about racism.

Low socio-economic areas, such as Glenorchy, were the worst for racism-related problems because residents were less likely to have been exposed to different cultures.

A soccer game between Hobart United and Metro at North Chigwell was abandoned last weekend after a brawl broke out amid racial taunts.

Hobart United is largely made up of Sudanese and Congolese players.

Mr Manen, who also heads the Settlement Council of Australia, the national peak body representing migrant and refugee settlement agencies, said Tasmanian laws were more lenient on the perpetrators of racial abuse than most other states.

He said the MRC was working closely with the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to tackle racial tensions and was involved in targeted awareness campaigns to reduce the problem.

He said most Tasmanians were responding well to the campaigns and were accepting of migrants. "But it only takes one person to move it back a notch, which is unfortunate," Mr Manen said.

He encouraged victims and witnesses of racial abuse to complete an incident report form, available on the OADC website, to help form a register of abuse which authorities could use to develop prevention measures.

The reports were first available in May 2010 and in the first year 35 incidents were lodged. They included reports of eggs being thrown at international students, racial abuse and taunting, physical assaults and property damage.

"They are not isolated incidents," Mr Manen said. "It's a regular occurrence."

Glenorchy Mayor Adriana Taylor slammed suggestions the region was a hotbed of racism.

She said racial tensions were no worse than anywhere else.

"At any bus mall after school hours there are always certain tensions, particularly between the young people from different schools," Ald Taylor said.

"Ours would be no worse than the Hobart bus mall or anywhere else."

She said the council had established two committees and was a partner in a third group established to tackle cultural cohesion.

"We make a big effort to involve the new arrivals in community life," she said.

Ald Taylor dismissed suggestions that low-socio economic areas were more likely to have racial problems.

She said Glenorchy was home to many migrant families because of the amount of public housing in the area and its accessibility for people who lacked their own transport.

She estimated that 15 per cent of new students at two local schools were from migrant families.

"They're a normal part of our community now," Ald Taylor said.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/07/03/242581_tasmania-news.html

Chiefs play down racism row JULIUS ROSS | June 21, 2011 12.01am

FOOTBALL Federation Tasmania has labelled two accounts of alleged inappropriate crowd behaviour last week at southern Premier League matches as "isolated" and rare occurrences.

New Town Eagles coach George Krambousanos resigned from his club last Monday, citing the lack of action from club officials to quell the behaviour of "rowdy" supporters as the reason for his exit.

Then, last Friday, the fixture between Glenorchy Knights and Beachside at KGV Park was abandoned due to alleged racial abuse from the home supporters directed at a Beachside player.

"FFT believes the large majority of our clubs, officials and players are well behaved," FFT chief executive John Boulous said.

"Issues of crowd behaviour are a minority within our game, [but] when reports are received we need to ensure the appropriate action is taken.

"From time to time there are isolated incidents; football is a passionate sport and we must ensure emotions and passion are kept in check."

Boulous said the federation treated all reports of poor behaviour, on or off the field, "very seriously".

The two incidents are in stark contrast to one another.

A report on the behaviour of the Eagles supporters has not been forthcoming and there have been no accounts of abuse.

It is believed Krambousanos's exit was prompted by a range of on and off-field incidents rather than primarily the behaviour of the supporters.

"Rowdy behaviour in itself is not an issue but if it goes beyond that then the club needs to step in and control the situation," Boulous said.

However, both the referee and player involved in Friday's incident are submitting reports.

"There is no place in our game for racial abuse, our game is the world game and football brings many cultures together," Boulous said.

Within the competition rules, home clubs must appoint a match manager on game day that is "responsible for the good order and behaviour of spectators".

"FFT will work closely with clubs to ensure the match manager has a strong presence on match day and any stakeholder at our game can report any issues with crowd behaviour," FFT competitions manager George Kalis said.

"However, if you are wearing club apparel even in the street, you are representing your club so you need to consider your behaviour in this light as your actions will be judged accordingly."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/21/239331_soccer.html

Soccer brawl kills game JULIUS ROSS | June 26, 2011 12.01am

POLICE were called as a Southern League One soccer match between Metro and Hobart United erupted in violence yesterday.

With the score at 3-1 to Metro and with less than five minutes remaining, the referee called off the match as players and spectators became embroiled in an on-pitch brawl.

It is believed the melee was the result of a fierce clash between the two League One sides. United players had received seven yellow cards and two reds, while Metro players had also received a number of cautions.

After the dismissal of the second United player, the referee allegedly asked the player to remove himself from the technical area. Then behind play, a United player head-butted a Metro player.

A scuffle ensued as players and spectators clashed and the referee became a target.

In Milan Lakoseljac Memorial Trophy matches, Taroona and Olympia Warriors advanced to the semi-finals.

Olympia and Taroona pulled off unexpected 2-1 and 3-1 victories - Olympia at home against Hobart Zebras, and Taroona on the road against Burnie United. Northern Premier League leaders Devonport beat Glenorchy Knights 2-1.

At Warriors Park last night, Olympia took the lead with a well-finished goal from Domhnall Corbett, who looped the ball over his own head and into the back of the net.

Ricky Self also finished brilliantly for a Zebras equaliser, volleying home a cross from Andrew Telegas. But Olympia scored the winner with a Joshua Colosimos cross that squeezed its way in off the post.

"Zebras are a good side, but I think we played a lot better than usual and we wanted it a little but more," Warriors coach Franco Previdi said.

Earlier in the day, Knights took a surprise lead in the first five minutes at Valley Road through a Will Roberts strike.

But Devonport bounced back in the second half, scoring through two headers from Chris McKenna and Kieran Mulraney.

Taroona toppled Burnie at Montello. Taroona needed extra-time to advance after the scores were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

David Hoppitt, Hugo Luttmer and Toby Dove scored for the southerners.

At Wentworth Park, Clarence United and New Town Eagles drew 1-1.

Clarence grabbed an early lead through Aaron Browning's strike but Adam McKeown netted his 11th goal of the season two minutes into the second half for Eagles. A winner proved elusive for either side.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/26/240811_soccer.html

Soccer team has had enough BRETT STUBBS | June 28, 2011 12.01am

RACISM in Tasmanian soccer is threatening to drive some African players interstate as the sport investigates a weekend brawl where police were called to intervene.

The clash between Metro and Hobart United in Southern League One at North Chigwell was abandoned with Metro leading 3-1 after players and spectators started brawling.

Yesterday striker Juma Barabara from Hobart United, a team made up largely of Sudanese and Congolese players, said racism was rife within the sport.

"In soccer, it always happens," Barabara, 27, said.

"Once I get the ball, people call me anything. I try to ignore that and keep playing my soccer. It is hard for me and I don't know what to do.

"I have nearly moved to Melbourne or Perth because of this thing happening all the time.

"We are being treated differently than the other teams."

Barabara said Hobart United received seven yellow and two red cards during the match, compared to one yellow card for Metro.

A Tasmania Police spokesperson said there had been no arrests at the game.

"Police attended and assisted with the safe departure of Hobart United players and officials. According to the attending police there was no indication the disturbance was racially motivated," the spokesperson said.

Football Federation Tasmania chief executive John Boulous has promised to crack down on violent and anti-social behaviour at matches. This was the second incident in two weeks.

The Glenorchy Knights-Beachside match on June 17 was called off as tensions threatened to boil over after a Knights spectator allegedly racially abused a Beachside player.

"The FFT will not tolerate violent or anti-social behaviour in our game," Boulous said.

"We view incidents like this as extremely serious, which damage the positive reputation of our game and the many clubs, players and coaches that uphold the values of football."

Boulous defended recent incidents as rare last week, but following the outburst of violence at North Chigwell, the federation is aiming to apply firm sanctions.

"Clubs, players and spectators that are found guilty of violent or anti-social behaviour can expect lengthy suspensions and hefty fines, the behaviour will not be tolerated," he said.

"FFT does not condone violence or anti-social behaviour at any games and will take the appropriate action after a full review into the latest incident."

Boulous said FFT would work co-operatively with the clubs, police and match officials to determine the penalties to be applied to the individuals and clubs involved in the melee at Metro.

A Metro reserves player recently received a five-match ban for racial abuse, while Boulous said the outcome of the Knights and Beachside clash would be heard very shortly.


http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/28/241191_soccer.html