By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Thunder Soccer Club is pleading with fans to dob in those who fired rocket flares during its recent grand final in the hope of avoiding hefty fines and a loss of points.
Thunder treasurer Ronnie Mustafai said the offender was costing the club, which faces misconduct charges at a Football Federation Victoria tribunal hearing on Thursday.
“Whoever did this, he doesn’t care what happens to the club. This gives the club a bad look,” Mustafai said. “We’ve told our supporters that it could be your relative or your mate, but for the good of the club, they should be dobbed in.”
The club is being charged for its “club associates” allegedly firing flares at the Victorian Premier League grand final last month and for failing to control its “club associates”.
If proven guilty of both charges, the club will be penalised a minimum $2500 and three championship points.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the VPL grand final.
The club also faces a charge of its “club associates” acting in a way that “was or may have been prejudicial to the interests or reputation of either the game of Football [sic] in Victoria, FFV or of any of its sponsors”.
There is no minimum penalty for this offence. One of two rocket flares launched from among Thunder supporters at the stadium travelled 50 metres, ricocheted off an upper-level advertising sign on the wing and ignited among the crowd below.
Two girls, 10 and 12, were injured by the flare, the younger girl suffering burns to her face.
Melbourne CIU detectives are investigating the incident, and are disappointed over the lack of information from Thunder fans. Last year, the club was penalised $20,000 and six championship points for a series of assaults, spitting incidents and referee abuse among crowds at its games.
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