Dogs reject violent fans tag
By Paul Carter, Nick Ralston and Kim Christian
August 08, 2007 08:27pm
Article from: AAP
THE troubled Bulldogs NRL club had an off-field victory today when top dog Malcolm Noad tackled new claims of fan thuggery.
The Bulldogs CEO won a backdown from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) after objecting to his team being used as a political football in an industrial dispute.
Mr Noad blew his whistle when Bulldogs fans were highlighted in reports about security threats to Sydney rail workers from violent commuters.
RTBU secretary Nick Lewocki said: "Four weeks ago we happened to have no security on the train, it happened to be a Bulldogs game, and there was a carriage trashed and our driver and guard were threatened."
The union later sought to get back onside with the doggies.
"Although today's media report singled out Bulldogs rugby league supporters, the RTBU never suggested they are the group within our community responsible for violence on trains," the union said.
Mr Noad said he was disappointed to read irresponsible reports using the Bulldogs name to highlight a fight the RTBU is having with RailCorp and the Iemma New South Wales Government.
"We are pleased the RTBU have set the record straight and we agree with them that the safety of train drivers and rail staff is paramount," he said.
It was ostensibly an industrial play-off between the RTBU, RailCorp, and the NSW Government.
But that didn't stop NSW Premier Morris Iemma, a St George-Illawarra fan, putting the boot into Bulldogs fans.
Mr Iemma said Bulldogs fans had a history of causing trouble.
"They've got a bad record of appalling behaviour..." Mr Iemma said.
"I can understand the drivers' hesitancy about Bulldog fans."
Police Minister David Campbell said he did not believe police viewed one team's football supporters to be more "unruly than others".
Opposition police spokesman Mike Gallacher said Mr Campbell must outline how many officers were attending Bulldogs games and the other measures used to address the ongoing problem of antisocial behaviour.
"The controversy surrounding the behaviour of some Bulldogs supporters is indicative of behaviour problems right across the board," he said.
Riot police kept watch over Bulldogs fans last season, after a number of off-field punch-ups involving supporters of the southwestern Sydney team.
The club hit rock bottom in 2004, when a 23-year-old woman in Coffs Harbour alleged she was gang raped by six Bulldogs players. No charges were ever laid.