Ethnic ties have held football back in Australia

Posted on October 3, 2014 by MikeOrTheDon

A few years ago at work I was asked to show around a new employee, a young Englishman named Michael.We got to talking and it emerged that Michael was a recent arrival in Australia, and was here to play football semi-professionally. He’d come to Australia to study, but was also playing football for aVictorian Premier League club, who were paying him a small stipend for his work as a central defender.Weird that so many young English people end up in Australia, right?I asked him to compare the quality of the play in England to Australia, and his responses were generally predictable:

1. England has a higher overall standard of play.
2. Australia has surprisingly good goalkeepers though.
3. English leagues are quicker.
4. Australians are more aggressive

His next point was the one that, I admit, caught me off guard:

5. There is too much ethnicity wrapped up in Australian football.

Michael was black, so you might think this was his main issue. Thankfully, I can report that he’d experience no direct racism. The problem he saw was that certain clubs retained a national identity and played in the same leagues as teams with historically conflicting national identities.For Michael, his problem was that his club was considered a ‘Serbian’ club. Occasionally they played a ‘Croatian’ club, and Michael was exposed to genuine deep-seated bile and full-blown hatred from the opposing supporters, players, and officials.“I’m clearly not Serbian but I don’t think that matters,” he said with a shrug. “They still hate me.”In case you need a quick history lesson, Serbs and Croats aren’t big fans of one another. Other clubs also have strong divisions based on their ethnicity, principally clubs “aligned” with Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Lebanon, and an almost endless list of other Diasporas.Michael’s experience shows an ugly underbelly for Australian football: an underbelly where you don’tshare a beer and a chat with your opponents after a match because you have a genuine hatred for them, their families, their culture.I may hate you… but dammit I respect you, Stone Cold.To their credit, Football Federation Australia have recognised this as an issue, and have a number of policies aimed at reducing or stamping out overt displays of ethnic pride that can potentially cause tensions to rise.One recent example saw Melbourne Knights prevented from taking to the park in the FFA Cup until they changed or removed their conveniently-named sponsor, “Melbourne Croatia Soccer Club” from the front of their team kit. They had blatantly tried to bypass the rules, and got caught out.Subtle. Understated.In the end, they had to play with no front-of-shirt sponsor at all. It caused a little bit of a stir, and many fans for teams with ethnic ties will argue that their clubs history, culture, and pride are too important to lose. The argument that a club should be allowed to retain (frequently-divisive) ethnic ties basically boils down to these points:

1. These clubs often have done a lot for establishing football leagues in Australia and deserve respect for this.
2. Ethnic ties are a reliable source of club culture, players, and supporters.
3. It is racist to ban clubs from retaining their national pride.

I actually agree with those three points, but I still don’t think they cut the mustard.Have all the ethnic ties you want, retain your culture and your history… but don’t complain when the peak body doesn’t want you in the top flight because of the inherent and unacceptable risks your ethnic ties carry.The FFA has a responsibility to protect and advance the GAME.This is more important than your club being allowed to chant hatred.I believe this is more important than ethnic ties, and I see efforts to control overt displays of ethnic pride in high-profile leagues as being in the best interests of the game in this country.Football is the world’s biggest sport and it competes in an extremely cluttered sporting landscape in Australia. Fighting for media attention, junior participation, and community respect are all vital elements of advancing the game.I’m not a naysayer for Australian football. I don’t believe the media bulldust about rampant hooliganism (which simply isn’t backed by stats) or the pro-AFL narrative that “soccer is for sheilas, wogs and poofters.”I believe that a tremendous FFA Cup Competition – with hundreds of matches played at local grounds across the nation – can be an exceptional advertisement for the game both with the media and with the community.I also believe that one car-park fight between supporters of a (let’s say, totally hypothetically) ‘Turkish’ club and an ‘Armenian’ club would completely and irrevocably undo any and all goodwill for an entire tournament.2007 Australian Open, but no-one was talking about tennis.When Bobby Despotovski set off a firestorm of racial violence in the old NSL for flashing a Serb “salute” it was possibly the darkest day in Australian football history. It was dirty laundry being shown to the entire country. It was ugly, very public, violent, and a shocking indictment on the rationality of each clubs’ supporters.Yep. This seems like a good reason to riot.So now we have the A-League. The FFA have done a good job of, wherever possible, discouraging ethnic ties and ensuring they do not dominate any individual A-League club.Clubs with strong ethnic ties can play in Premier Leagues across the country, compete in the FFA Cup (and already we’ve seen them defeat some A-League clubs) and argue till the proverbial cows come home that they belong in the top flight.But (SOAPBOX ALERT) the FFA has a responsibility to the game first and foremost, and I believe they’re making the right decisions on ethnic ties. Clubs can retain their history and celebrate their culture if they like – but they can’t do it in the most publicly visible league in the country.Instead, anyone can walk into an A-League merchandise store and purchase any scarf they want without first having to check their birth certificate to make sure it’s safe. I can watch Melbourne City thump the Victory scum with a mate wearing the wrong colours, and we’ll go grab a beer after the game. Fans sit in the stands without fencing between rival factions. Supporters are loud and passionate, but they don’t beat each other up because of a 1000-year-old dispute.Yes, ethnic ties brought football a long way in Australia. However, it quickly reached a point where they held the game back. As the game got bigger, the tensions and aggression between clubs were amplified and broadcast more widely to the non-football community. This is not good.The peak body, rightly, has looked to sidestep ethnic ties and I believe the game will benefit. The next generation of Aussie kids (And I say they’re ‘Aussie’ regardless of their ethnic background) should be able to go and watch the top flight and support any team they want. This is good.So for all the fans of ethnic clubs out there, my ultimate message is this: retain your pride, your culture, your history… but admit and acknowledge that it reached a point where the costs outweighed the benefits for the sport.

https://mikeorthedon.com/2014/10/03/ethnic-ties-have-held-football-back-in-australia/

R U OK ?

I never dreamed there was an issue with clubs still aligned with Italians.

Surely the Italians are now viewed as good ethnics, not like all that other rabble constantly at war with each other.

Yes, I still have my club, you?

Good point Mr Football. It seems the Italian mono ethnic clubs have recognized that enjoying their community can be done by other less controversial means without damaging the code. Notice how they just dispersed into their social clubs and lower leagues without a fuss? Credit where credit is due.

That's not to say they did not have their dark days either. Remember those on field riot scenes at Marconi and the unshaven man running around the pitch trying to hit people with a chair?

10+ pages

Do you work for the FFA paulc? Why are you posting an article from 2014?

I'll bite...

TBH I wouldn't want Melbourne Knights or Sydney United put into the HAL for the heck of it; I'd accept it only thru genuine pro/rel. To that end I wouldn't have them be founding members of A2/NPL National either. But it's only because of bad supporter reputation, not because they're Cro per se.

Why do others post articles from 2008? Such a loaded and unfair question.

Comments truly acknowledged and respected.

BTW what made you jump to the conclusion the bearded bloke @ the Pratten Park ruckus was a Marconi fan? He could've been one of the Sydney City mob(and it was an amp he was swinging over his head, not a chair...):exclamation:

EDIT: Lemme guess...it's cos he wasn't wearing a yarmulke??

Did you get fucked by a Croat or something pauly?

He's Maco, hates Greeks and hates Croats. 

For real? Thought the little bitch was a northern-stater "sokkah skip"

“I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”

Clubs shouldn't be judged on their background but what they do on the park. This doesn't just go one way. Not only should the FFA not punish clubs for heritage ("you can have this sponsor because they are ethnic"), clubs shouldn't judge each other ("I hate this team because they are serb") and fans shouldn't judge clubs ("I can't support my local team because it's full of Greeks").

Unfortunately we live in a world where these judgements are realities but that is no excuse for blanket generalising. We need to approach situations with an open mind and understanding. Regarding tensions at lower level, maybe mediating between rival clubs could help in the long run. Hold discussions to organise post game drinks! Assign extra officials at games!

We would be lying to say ethnicity in football is a non-issue but we would also be lying to say it has held the game back.

He goes on about Preston too much and is from Melbourne. He hates the SM too much. 

If there are requirements to meet prior to admission to the A-League or A2, then a club should be required to meet them.

e.g.
minimum ground size
minimum crowds
minimum sponsorship
fish where the fish are
derbies
metrics
etc

If they can't met minimum criteria, then they can't join.

I think the game is mature enough now to call ex-NSL club's bluff.

I have doubt's that any ex-NSL club would be able to meet any criteria set by the FFA for admission to the A-League.

Now, the A2 might be a different kettle-o-fish with a lower criteria.

Even if an ex-NSL club managed to pull the wool over the FFA's eyes and get a team into the A-League, I have a feeling they will be found wanting very quickly in a lot of the criteria and would also be put on notice by the FFA.  Also, if there's crowd violence, they can be kicked out of the league at the very worst or have light sanctions imposed at the very least (point deductions, shut-outs).  May not be a pretty look, but there are those heavy handed penalties.

Figures...they'll never be in the national top-flight again (not cos they're Macos/Skops...but b/c they're shit :laugh::laugh: )

Never mentioned them here Wally. I'm just the postman.

His whole anti ethnic agenda is driven by his hatred of SM. He knows that if another ethnic team than BR is going to play in the A-League it will be SM and he cant live with that. 

Not only judge them what they can do on the park but also judge them for what they can do off the park, their compliance with the rules that all others have promised to abide by and contribution to the growth of the sport.

#ProRelForAus

Don't fall for their misinformation BA81. They can't think of anything else so are desperate.

Now that SMH and Preston Macedonia has been mentioned by you guys, do you know if the games that they play against each other are still prohibited to be watched by the general public for fear of ethnic violence as was the case only a few short years ago?

The minimum criteria you highlight falls far short, even what the Crawford Report warned of.

Make no mistake that the mono ethnic clubs also gave such good assurances during the NSL days but were quickly found to be dishonourable in this regard. You call it "pull wool over the FFA's eyes" but a less demeaning way of saying it is lip service.

bloody effniks, glad there are no issues with the HAL, the quote below is so accruate:

"I can watch Melbourne City thump the Victory scum with a mate wearing the wrong colours, and we’ll go grab a beer after the game.Fans sit in the stands without fencing between rival factions. Supporters are loud and passionate, but they don’t beat each other up because of a 1000-year-old dispute"

I'm sure all the rival fans below shared a beer after the match

THE A-LEAGUE FILES

16/10/10

Melbourne Victory v Sydney United

Crowd: 17,299

Behaviour: Generally good, however disruptive elements in Victory cheer squad

Incidents: Four flares ignited and penalty notice issued for riotous behaviour.

Details: Male tried to start a fight with Sydney cheer squad, police arrested him.

27/11/10

Melbourne Heart v Sydney FC

Crowd: 4857

Behaviour: Overall good

Incidents: Flare discharge outside ground

Details: There was an altercation pregame between supporters at a Richmond Pub. Melbourne supporters were accused of having "ambushed" Sydney supporters and "caused some fear and anguish".

22/1/11

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne Heart

Crowd: 32,231

Behaviour: Poor

Incidents: 14 flare deployments, assault and taunting between supporter groups.

Details: 14-year-old boy abused police and "struck out" towards them after being seen acting aggressively towards other spectators after the match.

"Crowd behaviour in the Victory Supporter's cheer squad was extremely poor".

A male was "king hit" on the footbridge leading away from the venue after the match and received facial injuries.

30/1/11

Melbourne Victory v Gold Coast United

Crowd: 8207

Behaviour: Poor

Incidents: Three police assaulted, one police uniform damaged, 1 flare let off.

Details: An officer attempting to evict fan who had pulled the hair of another crowd member was "bitten on the leg by penetrating skin, but not causing bleeding".

"Crowd behaviour in the Victory supporter's cheer squad was again extremely poor".

They held a silent protest for 15 minutes of the match but "then reverted to their usual behaviours".

Moved en masse "in an apparent show of force/strength" to different seating areas. "This crowd/mob mobility was also a concerning behaviour".

23/12/11

Melbourne Heart v Melbourne Victory

Crowd: 26,579

Behaviour: Highly charged and active crowd, but mostly well behaved

Incident: Heart supporter spat on Victory supporter during match, had his membership card confiscated for further action. After the match fights erupted as a group of supporters walked across Gosch's Paddock.

Details: "100 Heart active supporters were walking across Gosch's Paddock a flare was set off and then a fight broke out. A number of fights then erupted." Police, security and mounted branch attended.

13/1/12

Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United

Crowd: 20,959

Behaviour: Good

Incidents: One eviction

Details: Adelaide supporters were held back 15 minutes until Victory supporters had cleared area after the game. A banner erected by Victory supporters reading "Backrow Hooligans" was taken down.

5/10/12

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne Heart

Crowd: 41,262

Behaviour: Generally crowd was manageable although hard core supporter groups became unruly at times.

Incident: Flares ignited and chairs thrown onto arena

Details: Heart supporters destroyed 65 seats and threw them onto the ground.

22/12/12

Melbourne Heart v Melbourne Victory

Crowd: 26,459

Behaviour: Extremely poor

Incidents: 18 flares lit and home made smoke bombs set off. A 12-year-old was detected carrying a flare and had it confiscated. Coins, liquid and bottles thrown at security, about 500 supporters invaded the pitch.

Details: "Police were overwhelmed to a point where we could only monitor the crowd due to the volatile behaviour. The general demeanour of the Victory support group was aggressive and anti social."

26/1/13

Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC

Crowd: 28,852

Behaviour: Victory supporters antagonistic towards Sydney supporters although separated

Incidents: Two flares lit

Details: Sydney supporters held back after game to allow Victory fans to disperse, also deployed additional members for Sydney supporters travel to the game from Federation Square.

2/2/13

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne Heart

Crowd: 41,203

Behaviour: Seats broken and flares lit in both supporter areas

Incidents: 9 flares struck throughout the game and about 170 seats damaged.

Details: "It is clear from this match and previous recent matches that crowd behaviour, particularly in the active supporter area is deteriorating."

16/3/13

Melbourne Heart v Western Sydney

Crowd: 5991

Behaviour: Reasonable up until last 15 minutes of match

Incidents: Hostile crowd behaviour

Details: "Approximately 100 Heart supporters moved to the northern end of the ground and started to bait the opposition. This tactic was successful. For a few minutes it was chaotic as the crowd was becoming very hostile towards each other."

Tutt, tutt.......no cherry picking now you hear! In any case any of then invade the pitch, attacked opposition coaches and players or even have their games played behind closed doors to the general public? Any unruly behaviour a result of foreign wars? As if we haven't got enough issues already. You also need to consider the order of magnitude.

NSL average crowds 3,000
HAL average cowds 14,000

It also could have been a Greek considering it was Sydney Olympic they were playing. He's a Utube link, see if you can pick it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHlsIy812kU

But you support an ethnic club tho?? 

All clubs are ethnic clubs (I said it many times) and long may it live. But there's a prominent difference between an ethnic club and a mono ethnic club.
One is insular the other is not. One drives to grow with mainstream support, the other tries to dodge it.

Im starting to believe you now scotty. He speaks itslian and dutch and has admitted to going to juve games as a kid w his dad.... and he did just defend italians in his mister football  comments..... but what your saying makes too much sense. Hes just waaaay too obsessed w greeks.

(But then when aussies played dutch in wc he backed the orange and predicted wed "cop the mother of all schellackings".. and he also follows brfc.... euro mongrel maybe? Lol)