By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Thunder president Merson Azizi has vowed his club will survive after a Football Federation Victoria appeal tribunal halved a home-game lockout ban for next season.
Last Wednesday, the tribunal handed down a spectator lockout at all Thunder home games until June 30, an increased $45,000 fine and the loss of three championship points, for the firing of at least two rocket flares and throwing at least two hand-held flares by spectators at the Victorian Premier League grand final in October.
One of the rocket flares caused minor injuries to two girls in the crowd — but a direct hit could have been fatal.
The tribunal also ordered all Thunder members — which totalled about 200 this year — to attend the FFV’s ‘respect and responsibility’ course by June 30.
Azizi said the club would not seek a Supreme Court appeal “at this stage” but would work with the FFV. “This penalty is better for the club. It means we will have at least six to eight games to play at home with open gates.
“We feel cultural change has come in the past couple of years but we may still have to change a couple of things. It’s too early to say what we will change at this stage.”
During the hearing, Thunder executive member Cesar Jacupi cast serious doubts on whether the club could overcome a 10-home game lockout of supporters — the penalty originally imposed last month.
Jacupi claimed the penalty — including a $40,000 fine — could cost up to $280,000 in lost gate takings, sponsorships and memberships, and possibly kill the club.
Soon after the hearing, Jacupi said the revised penalty could still jeopardise the club, costing it about $200,000.
Tribunal chairman Kim Lovegrove and his two colleagues reduced the lockout but issued a stern warning to Thunder leaders to push “cultural change” at the club and weed out the “minority” of “apples spoiling the apple cart”.
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