THE Melbourne Victory have been put on notice by the FFA after unruly fan behaviour resulted in the reigning premiers copping a big fine and a suspended points penalty.
Members of the ‘active’ Victory fan base lit flares during last Saturday’s draw in the Melbourne Derby, prompting fears for patron safety.
The Victory were issued a $50,000 fine as well as a three point suspended penalty which will be enforced if there is another transgression between now and the finals.
This was the same penalty that was imposed on the Western Sydney Wanderers just a week prior for the same offense.
Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro stated in no uncertain terms what he expects of the club’s fan base going into the finals.
“No flares,” Di Pietro said.
“That’s it. Non-negotiable.”
With a suspended points penalty hanging over the club’s head that could bundle the Victory out of the finals race, Di Pietro believes this could be a watershed moment for the A-League.
“We’ve reached a line-in-the-sand moment,” he said.
“It’s a moment where we ask true Melbourne Victory fans to stand with us to eradicate anti-social behaviour.
“The people involving themselves in anti-social behaviour are not fans of our club or our game. The true fans of our club want this to come to an end.
“Our message is clear and simple: no more flares, no more anti-social behaviour, enough is enough.”
The possibility of extra security has been mooted as a potential move to quell the influence of trouble makers inside the stadiums of A-League matches.
Melbourne Victory CEO Ian Robson believes the delays it could add to fans getting inside the ground is worth it if it ensures fan safety.
“We have to all collectively heighten our vigilance, if that creates additional delays or additional time for fans to access the stadium, that’ll be a small price to pay,” Robson said.
“This is a significant penalty and sanction, even though we’re not appealing, we’re not taking lightly the consequences and what this means for the club in the next 12 months.”
Despite a united front from the Melbourne hierarchy, not every Victory fan believes it is their duty to weed out the malcontents.
In a Facebook post addressing the issue, a member of the active fan base of the Victory known as the “North Terrace” denounced the actions of the ‘rogues’ in the crowd.
“The North Terrace would like to make it known that we do not promote, nor encourage, behaviours that could cost the club financially as well as the ability to win more silverware.
“We will not and cannot accept some people’s expectations that the leaders of the Terrace are 100 per cent responsible for the actions of each individual who chooses to stand amongst us.”
The North Terrace group urged all fans of the club to remember that their actions can have a direct consequence to their team’s fortunes on the field.
“None of the North Terrace leadership wants to see the club suffer financially or competitively due to actions beyond our control.
“We request that all Melbourne fans use some common sense before acting in the future.”
The suspended points penalty leaves the Victory and in a precarious position.
The Victory face the red-hot Adelaide United at home on Friday night only four points clear of seventh placed Perth Glory.
Any slip up could cost the Victory their finals spot, and now with the penalty hanging over their head the threat that a points deduction – which is out of their hands – the pressure is on the reigning premiers.
William Hill still have the Victory as third favourites to take out the title at $5.00 but Sportbet do not share the optimism of their English counterparts.
Sportsbet have the reigning premiers on the fourth line of betting at $6.50, blowing out from the $5.00 quote they had on Kevin Muscat’s men prior to the weekend’s incident.
