The Other Side of the Coin
Flares and anti-social behaviour from a very small minority of fans has tended to plague the A-League over the last few months now but we also must stand and applaud the behaviour of the majority of fans predominantly over the past week. Whilst normally one shouldn’t be met with overt praise for normal behaviour and acting responsible this last weekend of games was somewhat different.
Two potential flashpoint fixtures were held, the Sydney derby and the league’s oldest rivalry Victory vs. Adelaide. Admittedly as a football fan both fixtures were met with trepidation unable to predict the erratic behaviour of those few ‘fans’ who choose to sully the reputation their club, countless volunteers and fans work so hard to build. The water cooler talk had steadily been about the unacceptable fan behaviour of recent weeks and although blown totally out of proportion by countless media outlets but football fans cannot deny this behaviour was as much disappointing as unacceptable.
Fans attended both games in big numbers and from what I understand the crowd were extremely well behaved and the games were without incident. I must admit as a football fan I watched both games with a smile on my face knowing there wasn’t any flare ups in the crowd and we were able to celebrate the positive aspects of the league.
Sadly I cannot say this about my club over in England, West Bromwich Albion. After suffering a disappointing 3-1 FA Cup exit to Championship club Reading club stalwart Chris Brunt walked over to acknowledge the fans who’d spent their hard earned to support ‘The Baggies’ enroute to a possible quarter final. What happened next can only be described as a vile act as a ‘fan’ has thrown a coin and hit Chris Brunt just under the eye causing a small cut. In all seriousness this could’ve blinded the 300 game veteran and well liked player at the club.
For almost a decade Brunt has been a crowd favourite at The Hawthorns and in many ways is the heart and soul of the club. The fact the coin hit the player to me is irrelevant, any person throwing coins or anything else onto the pitch must be dealt with for this despicable act. You wouldn’t get away with it on the street and nor should you at a football game.
West Brom doesn’t get a great run with the press over is Australia for good reason; we are a battling Premier League club and hardly an excitable team this season. When you finally hear your club mentioned for an incident like this you can only drop your head and be disappointed it’s because of negative fan behaviour and nothing more.
I have the privilege of heading to ‘The Hawthorns’ this Saturday afternoon as they take on a Crystal Palace team containing Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak. Much planning (and negotiating with the wife) has gone into getting a few football games into my overseas holiday so I will cherish those games I am fortunate to see. The mood will understandably be down at West Brom after a poor cup performance and what can only be described as a poor season on the pitch under Tony Pulis. Finishing seventeenth or above is now key for the club and this should be achievable unlike four miles down the road at Villa Park.
As a football fan I know trips to the other side of the world don’t just happen and I will envisage to enjoy every moment. As football fans we cannot let the minority ruin our football experiences. Whilst the anti social behaviour is extremely disappointing and something we all want to see eradicated from football we cannot be must remember to get out there and enjoy our beautiful game.
I am putting my West Brom seven game unbeaten run at risk (2 wins 5 draws) and admit the challenge is daunting; but come Saturday afternoon I will be rugged up ready to indulge in some Premier League action.
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