Flares are thrown by Wanderers fans at the Sydney derby. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
STRINGENT new ticketing measures will be imposed on Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory for the rest of the season, in a bid to eliminate any further crowd disturbances and avoid deducting competition points.
From next weekend, supporters of either club wanting to buy tickets for the so-called "active areas" at both home and away games - the Red and Black Bloc end at Parramamtta Stadium, the North Terrace area at AAMI Park and the designated away fans' area for both teams on the road - will have to be members, and be limited to a single ticket.
The measures have been used once already, for the rearranged fixture between Victory and Western Sydney on January 14 that came shortly after supporters had engaged in a running fight on Bourke St in Melbourne on December 28, hours before a previous game.
Eight people have been charged over that so far, with more arrests anticipated as Victorian Police seek extradition orders, and both clubs received a suspended three-point penalty as a consequence.
A Melbourne Victory supporter is ejected by security staff.Source: News Limited
The new policy will have little practical effect at Wanderers home games, where the RBB end is already members-only for reasons of capacity.
But tickets for the Sydney derby on March 8 at Allianz Stadium, already on sale, are being sold under the new limits - though non-members will be able to buy a ticket anywhere else in Allianz Stadium, they won't be able to gain entrance to the designated "away bays".
The same will be true of the Melbourne derby on March 1, while certain games deemed "high-risk" will feature extra measures such as intensive bag searches.
A-League boss Damian DeBohun said the effectiveness of the measures at the game on January 14 had convinced the league to extend them until the end of the season.
Police keep an eye on Western Sydney Wanderers supporters.Source: News Limited
"The trial is squarely aimed at preventing troublemakers using the active areas to engage in anti-social behaviour that affects the enjoyment of others and damages the reputation of the club and game," he said.
"FFA has worked closely with state police forces, security contractors and stadium managers on a range of security measures. We are all absolutely determined to make sure an A-League experience has a unique atmosphere in a family-friendly environment."
Both clubs have had success in policing their home games, with Wanderers fans so far having avoided letting off flares at any game. The RBB was praised recently by Parramatta's police command for the way its pre-match marches through the city have been managed this season.
But a number of flares and firecrackers were ignited during the game at AAMI Park, while the disturbances beforehand made headline news for days afterwards.
It's unlikely that the ticket restrictions will apply to the Asian Champions League, in which Western Sydney makes it debut at home to Ulsan Hyundai on February 26.
The club says it is expecting record crowds for an Australian side in the ACL, despite midweek games historically struggling to attract sizeable numbers.
The measures come with FFA believed to be on the verge of completing the sale of Wanderers for around $12m, less than two years after the club was established from scratch, to a consortium of local businessmen led by Primo Smallgoods boss Paul Lederer.
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