Spectator rant puts soccer club's future in doubt
Mex Cooper and Teo Pellizzeri
August 4, 2011 - 4:56PM
Preston Lions: future 'now in doubt'.
A spectator who abused a 17-year-old referee has placed a junior Melbourne soccer club in jeopardy after it was slapped with a $15,000 fine over his behaviour.
The teenage referee came under verbal attack from the man at a match between the Preston Lions and Yarra Jets under 15s teams on July 17.
Football Federation Victoria chief executive officer Mark Rendell said the Lions supporter had abused the referee throughout the first half of the game.
At half-time, he said the referee told the club the abuse must stop but when the man continued berating him he abandoned the match 30 minutes into the second half.
"At that stage a spectator approached him and had to be physically restrained ... the opposition team felt so concerned about the safety of the referee that they drove the car right up to the change rooms and put the referee into the car and drove him home," Mr Rendell told radio 3AW.
The Preston Lions were charged in relation to the incident and at a tribunal hearing last night handed the weighty fine.
Club president Pece Siljanovski said the federation had failed to fine the person responsibility and the club's future was now in doubt.
Mr Siljanovski said the club condemned the spectator's actions and was only given since last Friday to investigate the matter before the tribunal hearing.
"We would never condone these actions, we have been working very hard as a committee to stamp out these kinds of things and change the image of the club but these types of heavy-handed tactics by the federation, in my opinion, are out of touch with the reality of what volunteers face [in the] day-to-day running [of] these not-for-profit organisations," he said.
Mr Siljanovski said the club's request for an extension to look into what had happened had been refused and it was now planning a meeting to discuss whether the club could continue to operate.
The 63-year-old club was already in financial strife and struggling to pay a $100,000 debt.
He said the fine should have been given to the man who abused the referee and as the game had been an away match for the Lions the club, it had not been responsible for organising officials or marshalls.
Mr Siljanovski said the spectator did not have any official connection with the club and it was not known if he was one of the players' fathers.
"We promote the federation's message of respecting referees' decisions and parents are made aware of this when they sign their children up," Mr Siljanovski said.
Mr Rendell said the federation had a "no-tolerance" policy when it came to referee abuse.
"It's one of our highest penalties this year and we don't apologise for that because we don't want to see this type of behaviour happening at community sport," he told 3AW.
He said Preston Lions could appeal the decision. The club is yet to decide its response.
The Preston Lions are not the only soccer club feeling the pinch after being fined by the federation.
Campbellfield-based Youth United, a provisional league3 club, is fighting for its existence after receiving $7250 in fines for its involvement in a melee on July 2.
A Youth United player attack on a referee and melee between spectators at the club's game against Melton Phoenix at Seth Raistrick Reserve resulted in a raft of misconduct charges being bought against a player, Salih Yigit, and the club.
Youth United had 13 players suspended until December 31 this year. Yigit was suspended until December 31, 2021 after failing to appear for a tribunal hearing on July 13.
The club was also found guilty in absentia of nine other misconduct charges, including bringing the game into disrepute, and was penalised with fines totalling $13000.
This was reduced to $7250 after the FFV appeals board on Wednesday dismissed the misconduct charge, which had suspended 13 YU players, and two other charges of misconduct relating to behaviour of club associates. Five other misconduct verdicts were upheld.
Youth United president Cemal Kuru said the financial penalty would be a threat to the club's existence.
"Of course it will be difficult, we'll have to make a decision," Kuru said. "If the [FFV] does give us the opportunity to wipe [the fine] this season and next we could [pay it,] but if we have to pay it this season, I can't say automatically that we can continue."
With Hume Weekly
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