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Football Federation Australia Defends Right To Ban Fans

Football Federation Australia has "defended its right to ban fans from A-League games as outrage continued" over the publishing of names and photographs of 198 offenders "who have been barred from all stadiums over the past three years," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. Angry fans took to social media on Sunday and Monday to "vent their feelings over what they see is an attempt to bring down the sport" after the Sunday Telegraph highlighted a leaked "top secret document" that featured 40 pages of photographs of "soccer louts" banned by FFA. Nearly half of those banned are associated with A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers. The paper revealed "the football shame file features ­fans who have engaged in conduct ranging from violence, assault or flare throwing to general thuggery" and that "more than a quarter of them have tried repeatedly, and often succeeded, to re-enter grounds even after bans have been imposed." Fans around the country called on FFA to "react strongly to the newspaper story." Instead, it issued a "brief and carefully worded statement" in which A-League CEO Damien de Bohun declared the organization had been "strong in protecting the security of peaceful and passionate fans who love the sport" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/24). ESPN reported Australian radio broadcaster Alan Jones criticized FFA for "lack of action when it comes to tackling the problem of violence involving fans of A-League clubs." Jones slammed the nation's football governing body during his Monday morning program. He accused FFA of "not doing enough to keep A-League crowds in check." Jones: "The biggest issue seems to be that Soccer Australia, or as it calls itself Football Federation Australia, don't want to admit the problem." He also compared FFA's handling of the situation to that of the French FA "during the recent terror attacks in Paris." He said, "Just finally, is this like terrorism in Paris? The leaders have no guts?" Daily Telegraph reporter Rebecca Wilson replied, "That's exactly right. That's exactly right, Alan." Wilson claimed that FFA was "sweeping the problem under the carpet." She said, "The view from the FFA is we'll prove that we're doing something. Some of the extent of their offenses would make your eyes water and would seriously make you question whether or not you would ever go to any A-League game at all" (ESPN, 11/23).

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