DANDENONG Thunder’s appeal to Football Federation Australia has seen a minor reduction to its punishments, but the club remains financially vulnerable with a number of penalties remaining in place.
On appeal to the Football Federation Australia (FFA) Appeals Committee concerning misconduct at the Victorian Premier League grand final at AAMI Park on 14 October, the committee ruled the club would be forced to shut the gates for its first five VPL matches of the 2013 season, be fined $40,000 and have three championship points deducted this season.
“This was, after all, the showcase of the game in Victoria and the behaviour of the club’s supporters was all the more appalling in that context,” the committee ruled.
“Further, and arguably more importantly, spectators, including many children, were put at risk of substantial personal injury by the discharging of flares, particularly rocket flares.
“The lock-out and fine were reduced from all VPL matches prior to 1 July and $45,000 respectively, but Thunder spokesperson Sezar Jakupi said the remaining sanctions will push the club to the edge of insolvency.
“We’re obviously very disappointed,” Jakupi said.
“We do and obviously have always thought the punishment is unnecessarily excessive and will push the club to the brink as to whether the club will be able to survive it.
“One of the main reasons we were disappointed is that we made that abundantly clear to the appeals committee that this decision, which is an unprecedented decision in Victorian soccer history, that they call a deterrent, but we say it is a shutdown order.
“A deterrent is something you can survive, but a punishment which has the effect that the club will have to shut down isn’t a deterrent at all.”
Jakupi said a recent history of unsanctioned actions at A-League matches, a level above the VPL under FFA governance, should have acted as correlating jurisdiction for the FFA Appeals Committee, but was not used as referring evidence for the Thunder’s appeal.
“Even the recent history of the A-League games with plenty of evidence of flares and pitch invasions – no-one has come out with any penalties or sanctions,” Jakupi said.
“Our point of view is that we’re being selectively punished and manifestly so.
“You can get punished and it’s something you can take in your stride, but this is punishment that puts us in crisis mode.
“We’re in crisis mode – as it’s a five-game lockout and potentially it could be round seven or eight before we can make any revenue.”
“How does any club ever be able to survive that?
“We’re in crisis mode trying to understand if we’re able to field a team or not.”
On top of the club-centric punishments, prior to 30 June, all club members must undertake and complete an FFV Respect and Responsibility Course and no Dandenong Thunder member shall be admitted to home games after the fifth competitive game of the 2013 season unless each member produces evidence of having attended the FFV Respect and Responsibility Course.
FFV CEO Peter Gome welcomed the decision which, he said, reinforces FFV’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy when dealing with anti-social behaviour.
“FFV is committed to ensuring that community football matches uphold community standards and provide a safe and family-friendly environment which allows players, officials and spectators to enjoy the game,” he said.
Dandenong Thunder Soccer Club has 30 days to appeal the decision and is assessing its legal options, including an potential appeal to the Supreme Court of Victoria.
