Victory to divide fans..because the fans have been naughty

Sadly it was always going to happen once the internet fueled Sydney/Melbourne taunting carried over to the Telstra Dome and surrounding areas.

The headlines were bad for the game, and we all know it isn't Europe or even one day cricket game, but a few "fans" have sorted it for everyone.

And if you throw a flare, smash a tram window, swear in unison at the opposition fans, and generally charge through the roadways surrounding the ground, in Melbourne particularly Melbourne, the media are going to have a field day.

And so football fans are divided again, just like the world over. So that makes it right?

Wrong.



Was it to much to ask that rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne couldn't be good natured, full of banter and passion.

Imagine a big football game lacking the need for the police escort march of away fans to the stadium.

Family game? Well how many families will be making the trip for the next Melbourne Sydney game at The Dome?

And watch out for the next game in Sydney. Can you imagine the fans who might just be attracted to their first Melbourne Sydney game!

Even good guys on the forums talk of throwing flares back if thrown at, and giving it back to the others, if the others start it.

Violence is just wrong. And I'm sick of it.

But the fans don't get it. Or so it seems. Every paper and journo in the country is desperate to write anything negative about football.

And the incidents at Newcastle, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne are just a sign of the times in Australia. Not just football I'm afraid.

Cronulla, AFL, Rugby League all have public violence. And I'm told it can get a wee bit testy on a weekend down the various towns and cities of Australia after midnight.

Even in Canberra:

Brumbies Coach Laurie Fisher was recently pelted with bottles, verbally abused and scared to walk to the stadium car park and the Brumbies finished 5th!

And not an away fan in sight.

So fans will be divided. Will it help?

Yes. But the vitriol served by one group on the other may well be here to stay.

Yuk!


So the following has been announced by Melbourne Victory:

Victory announces new seating arrangements for future games



Melbourne Victory has supported plans introduced by Telstra Dome to provide a new seating plan for visiting supporters for future matches to ensure that any potential confrontation between fans can be avoided.



The changes to be implemented by Telstra Dome for the game against Wellington Phoenix this Saturday (kick off 7pm), and for future home games, provide a dedicated visiting supporter end behind the goals at the LaTrobe Street (Northern) end of Telstra Dome. Visiting supporters will enter and exit Telstra Dome through Gate 7, and this gate will not be available to other ticket holders.



Additional seating bays will be provided on Level 1 for Melbourne Victory general admission members and supporters who purchase a general admission ticket for individual games. New dry zones have also been created at the LaTrobe Street (Northern) end of the stadium. The Melbourne Victory supporter end (Bourke Street Southern end) will continue to provide opportunities for supporters to stand.



Victory CEO Geoff Miles said that the new arrangements had been put in place by Telstra Dome to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all supporters was guaranteed and not compromised by the poor behaviour of some fans.



“In light of the incidents between fans at our game against Sydney FC, action has been considered necessary, as the major priority for Telstra Dome and Melbourne Victory is an enjoyable match night experience for all fans including supporters from visiting clubs,” Miles said.



“The poor behaviour of a small minority of fans has been the catalyst for this change and no one wants to take a risk for future games, especially given the huge number of families attending Melbourne Victory games.


- No standing on levels 2 & 3. It was re-iterated to me that Telstra Dome will not be swayed by this.