A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers supporters in the Red and Black Bloc "have held private talks with police, in a bid to mend the relationship that has deteriorated sharply in recent months," according to Tom Smithies of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH.
As Western Sydney prepares to host its most high-profile fixture, CEO John Tsatsimas admitted all A-League clubs "had to understand that policing of sporting events had changed in the wake of global security issues."
Tsatsimas said that relations between the club’s active supporter group and the police were “much improved” following the talks late last year. Officers are likely to be "out in force for the derby after incidents at recent fixtures between the Wanderers and Sydney FC, but there appear to have been attempts to soften the policing of games, such as siting the mobile custody unit far more discreetly at Pirtek Stadium." Tsatsimas:
“We’re in a much improved space to where we were previously, and the dialogue between the RBB and the police has been very encouraging" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 1/14).
