By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Thunder has made its case to Australian soccer’s highest body against the “club-destroying” penalties issued last year.
On Thursday, club spokesman Sezar Jakupi and lawyers flew to a Football Federation Australia tribunal hearing in Sydney to argue against a $45,000 fine and seven home game lockout.
Jakupi said it may be up to two weeks until the FFA tribunal released its written judgment.
“Unfortunately we will have to sit, wait and be patient until the the FFA appeals committee ends up making its decision,” he said.
The penalty arose from a Victoria Premier League grand final against Oakleigh in which rocket flares were fired by spectators. Two girls were injured by one of the flares, which had ricocheted off a top-tier advertising hoarding.
A Football Federation Victoria tribunal held the club responsible for the incidents. The rockets were fired from the Thunder supporters’ end but the culprits have not been identified.
Thunder officials said the penalty had stalled its sponsor and membership drives for this season, and claim it could wipe out the club.
“We’re not willing to accept this. [The Football Federation Victoria] are trying to destroy the club,” Jakupi said before the hearing. “Our future is on the line.”
Jakupi said the FFV bias was shown by handing the two largest fines against VPL clubs in the past five years.
He said the Thunder argued last Thursday that an earlier FFV tribunal appeals hearing on the matter denied the club natural justice when it recorded a guilty plea. The club had pleaded not guilty.
■ The state government has stiffened penalties for sports hooliganism.
Last week, it announced $704 on-the-spot fines for possessing flares at a sports event.
Those who fire a flare will be fined more than $1000, and pitch invaders will be banned up to five years from venues.
“Hooligans who light flares, invade the pitch, damage the venue or destroy chairs will now face tough penalties,” Premier Ted Baillieu said.
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