Sydney FC Confident In Security Measures In Place For Saturday's Derby

A-League side Sydney FC said it is confident that the derby on Saturday "will make headlines for footballing reasons only, after announcing the fixture had sold out for the fifth consecutive time" on its home turf, according to Tom Smithies of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Despite the game "looming as the first major flashpoint for Western Sydney since Saturday’s visitors were hit with a suspended points deduction" due to fan misbehavior, Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata said he was confident that "common sense would prevent any crowd issues arising." Police have liaised with both sets of active supporters to ensure their pre-match marches "are kept well apart geographically and are staggered in terms of timing, with the fans entering at opposite ends of the stadium." More than 40,000 spectators are expected in total. But though a significant police presence will be deployed, "no additional security measures will be in place beyond the normal protocols employed for a derby" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 2/17).