Former Socceroo Robbie Slater says it?s time to ban the Red and Black Bloc
February 13, 2016 8:00pmROBBIE SLATER
The Daily Telegraph
IT?S quite simple. After reading the statement from the Red and Black Bloc there should be no fine for the Wanderers and no threat of a three point deduction hanging over their heads ? it?s the RBB who should be banned.
If they, the club?s own active support group, are not prepared to report what they know and condemn those responsible for bringing the game into disrepute, then they clearly have little care for the players and coaching staff.
The shame in all of this is that it is potentially derailing what is one of the success stories of the season. This time last year the Wanderers were struggling at the wrong end of the table and ended up finishing second from bottom in what was a disastrous A-League campaign. But Tony Popovic overhauled his squad and has, this season, orchestrated a remarkable comeback story. The Wanderers are leading the charge for the Premier?s Plate and have played in some of the best games of the season, always with an incredible atmosphere around them.
But it could all come crashing down because of this idiotic and juvenile behaviour.
For the RBB to come out and make a statement saying it?s ?personal choice? to light flares ? what message is that sending?
If they stick to that statement you can rest assured that, maybe even as soon as Sunday but almost certainly at the Sydney derby, the Wanderers are destined to lose three points.
It?s not a question of if, it?s a question of when.
We?re not in the schoolyard here. This is criminal activity and if that?s their stance then the leaders of the RBB who made that statement should be held accountable. They should have condemned the behaviour and made it clear that when something questionable is spotted, they will inform the authorities at the venue that these are the guilty ones and can you please get rid of them.
I can understand Football Federation Australia are in a hopeless situation where they have to do something, but I?m of the opinion that the club shouldn?t be fined that $50,000 and the players certainly shouldn?t lose three points for all their fantastic work this season.
The only individuals FFA should be targeting are the guilty culprits. I can?t believe that in 2016, with CCTV coverage and all the cameras that are there, that we can?t isolate and get rid of this small minority of rogue supporters. It should also be noted that a flare was lit by Melbourne Victory fans, even if it didn?t have the same premeditated and co-ordinated nature.
But Wanderers fans now need to take responsibility for the future of their club. They should know now that these people are letting their club down, costing them both financially and, potentially, competition points. If you don?t care about that then you have no place being at a football game because that?s what being a football supporter is about ? helping your club.
Let?s not forget that some of the fans held the game in some respects to ransom at the start of the season and actually took the focus away from promoting the start of the A-League by threatening protests in the weeks leading up to the competition. They went on to boycott a round in an effort to bring the FFA to account. We all agree that at the time they had a point ? though I didn?t agree with the boycotting of games ? but the FFA came to the party.
So what is this about? Is it about fans taking that as an example and believing they can now do what they want? I?ve even heard some people asking for flares to be made legal. That?s outrageous ? families with young children don?t want to be around flares and they shouldn?t have to be. To use examples of other league?s around the world that use flares isn?t good enough because it?s completely irrelevant. It is the way it is here and they?ve got no place at a football match.
These guys are cowards. They?re lighting flares and hiding behind other people, who are then suffering the consequences for their cowardly behaviour.
