FFA chief executive David Gallop has announced that the Western Sydney Wanderers will be punished for the behaviour of their fans on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium against Melbourne Victory.
The Wanderers have been fined $50,000 and given a suspended three-point penalty.
The club will lose three competition points if another serious incident occurs that the FFA deem should trigger the suspended points sanction. This will be in place for the next 12 months.
“The events of last Saturday night and the coordinated misconduct of a section of Western Sydney Wanderers fans cannot be tolerated by anyone in Australian football,” FFA CEO David Gallop said.
“The misconduct was not only dangerous and threatening but the coordinated and calculated way the fans behaved was a serious blight on the reputation of football and everyone involved in our game including clubs, members, fans, players and officials.
“The sanctions have been set taking into consideration the seriousness of the incidents but a clear commitment both publicly and through its submission that the Wanderers will take responsibility for implementing a clear strategy to identify and exclude these individuals.
“The Western Sydney Wanderers and the vast majority of Wanderers fans have expressed their disdain at the behaviour of the perpetrators on Saturday night and must now work together to rid their club of these troublemakers who threaten the huge support the club has brought to the competition. While the club has put a number of measures in place it goes without saying that more needs to be done.
“The timing of the incident was frustrating for everyone who has been working collectively on a new banning process to deal with the type of behaviour that was on show last Saturday night.
“The use of flares and associated devices at sporting events are extremely dangerous, illegal and have no place in Australian football.
“We are putting a line in the sand. If these people are true football fans they will understand and appreciate their actions will hurt the clubs they claim to support.”
