Revealed: A-League football fans and their deadly arsenal of weapons
January 17, 2016 12:00amLia Harris
Crime reporter
The Sunday Telegraph
DARTS, flares, a hammer, bolts and bags of nails were among potential weapons seized at A-League matches last year.
The list of would-be missiles confiscated from football fans was revealed as police prepared to mount a massive presence at Allianz Stadium in Parramatta last night for the Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC local derby.
At last year’s match on October 24 police were forced to fire tear gas before the match even started, when up to 60 Wanderers supporters charged at a group of Sydney FC fans, starting a brawl and resulting in several arrests.
Following the brawl police found large bolts and a hammer that were believed to have been brought to pelt the opposition.
“There have been past instances of items seized at games that have caused great concern to police. These have included darts, secreted flares, bags of nails and coins,” a police spokesman said.
No similar items were found at NRL or AFL fixtures in Sydney last year, police said.
Major Events and Incidents Group Commander Tony Crandell said police were conducting thorough searches before and during matches to prevent prohibited items from being smuggled into the venue.
“To ensure safety and security, police and venue security continually monitor crowd behaviour; take steps to increase patron comfort and avoid overcrowding; search people and places to identify the presence of flares and other incendiary devices that create dangers or hazards to patrons; and, wherever possible, take proactive steps to prevent violence, injuries and property damage,” Det Supt Crandell said.
“Our co-operative actions are designed to exclude high-risk supporters through legal process and banning orders, to influence supporter behaviour and empower non-risk supporters through liaison and credible leadership of sporting clubs and supporter groups.”
Football Federation Australia said it took a strong stance on behaviour at all A-League venues.
“In relation to the Sydney derby, there’s a collaborative approach to safety and security with the stadium manager Venues NSW, their security contractor, the NSW Police and of course the two clubs,” an FFA statement said.
“We expect all fans to enjoy the night and support their teams with the passion that makes for such a unique atmosphere in Australian sport.”
An Office of Sport spokesman said safety was a priority at the government-owned Parramatta Pirtek Stadium.
“Venues NSW and Pirtek Stadium in collaboration with stakeholders including the Football Federation Australia, Western Sydney Wanderers and NSW Police implement a range of security measures and screening processes to limit prohibited items entering the venue,” he said.
Any displays of violence at last night’s fixture would be a major blow for the A-league after a list of almost 200 supporters banned from matches by the FFA was published in The Sunday Telegraph late last year, causing a furore among fans who claimed the review process was unjust.
