By Mark Baber
April 27 – Western Sydney Wanderers’ last home game of the season on Saturday was marred by controversy as police, including members of ‘Strike Force Raptor’, a specialised force designed to carry out operatives against gangs engaging in criminal activity, reacted to a flare being lit by entering the ‘active support area’ and using OC (pepper) spray, leading to a 14-year old boy being hospitalised for 7 hours.
Around 20 minutes after a flare was lit in the area of the ground populated largely be members of Western Sydney Warriors ultra-group – the Red and Black Bloc (RBB) – police attempted to apprehend the suspect. The police claimed in a statement that: “A number of people who were standing near the man surrounded police and security, shouting at the officers in an aggressive manner. Police were forced to use OC spray and further officers were deployed in to the stand.”
Although the police initially claimed that no one was hospitalised as a result of the action, a 14-year old boy who was attending the match with his family members, was taken to a local children’s hospital where he was treated for the effects of pepper spray. Talking to media the boy, Daniel Thick, said he “turned around and there was a cop was in my face. By the time I could turn away I had already copped most of it.” and his mother said “My son was screaming, trying to get the stuff out of his eyes.”
About 150 fans decided to walk out of the stadium in protest at the police action and another confrontation ensued, this time caught on video which has been uploaded to YouTube (“Police pepper sprays RBB hooligans from Western Sydney Wanderers WSW”).
The footage shows raucous fans chanting “RBB ole ole” and getting in the face of one police officer who decides enough is enough, and unleashes his pepper spray canister, with his colleagues joining in. As the onlookers remonstrate with the officer responsible, he waves to them and blows a kiss, somewhat undermining suggestions he was acting to calm the situation down.
A statement by RBB on its Facebook page said: “We continue to gather footage and statements from members and witnesses from around the stadium in regards to the incidents that occurred at last night’s home game vs Perth Glory.
“We will not be treated as second class citizens. In a situation where the use of excessive force resulted in injuries to women and children, a decision had to be made.
“In the past, RBB have liaised well with police and any questioning or concerns raised were dealt with at half time or post game with minimal fuss. This process resulted in an incident free season in-stadium. Last night was different, and the task force entered the terrace in an aggressive manner – a manner that is completely counter intuitive and exasperated (sic) the situation.”
The police claimed that “Two male senior constables were treated for minor injuries after one of them had a coin thrown into his face and the other was kicked and punched in the back.”
The issue has been taken up by a number of media outlets, with opinion divided between those praising the police for a crack-down on soccer hooligans and those concerned about the nonchalant use of pepper spray by the NSW police, who were also recently accused of pepper-spraying a blind student at an student demonstration.
Football Federation Australia said they would fully co-operate with the NSW police investigation and any individuals identified as having engaged in anti-social behaviour could face lengthy bans.
Western Sydney Wanderers chief executive John Tsatsimas said: “The club is proud of the incomparable active support that is on show during match days and will do everything in our power to ensure that our match day experience is not compromised including the safety of our members and other attendees at our fixtures.
“We will work together with our members, the FFA, police and security to make sure that necessary measures are in place to avoid a repeat event for future matches.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734870249labto1734870249ofdlr1734870249owedi1734870249sni@r1734870249ebab.1734870249kram1734870249
