Western Sydney Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer has launched a blistering attack on NSW Police over “excessive” and “intimidating” treatment of A-League fans, calling for an end to heavy-handed tactics after supporters staged a silent protest on Saturday night.
The Red and Black Bloc, the Wanderers’ active supporter group, said they were told they would have to surrender drums, megaphones and banners to police for two hours before their arrival at Campbelltown Stadium for Saturday’s clash against Macarthur FC, and that they would only returned if fans were deemed to have “behaved” appropriately.
In response, the RBB chose to stay silent for the first 20 minutes of the match in a demonstration against what they described as being “treated like criminals” – and afterwards, both coaches expressed support for the protest, with Macarthur’s Sasa Ognenovski warning that fans “won’t turn up” if they continued to be unfairly restricted.
Now the Wanderers have formally entered the fray via a 639-word open letter from Lederer, amounting to the most pointed criticism of police by an A-League club in many years.
Lederer described the weekend’s events represented a “tipping point” in relation to how supporters are managed, and said there was “no justification” for the presence at games of riot police at games.
“For too long, our supporters have faced excessive policing, policing that you as members and fans pay for,” Lederer wrote.
Wanderers fans hold up a protest banner on Saturday night.© Getty Images
“Recent examples of this include, hundreds of fans being withheld from entering the Sydney Derby for up to 30 minutes, the moving goalposts around concession items, and over the weekend, up to 20 Public Order and Riot Squad officers were positioned at times behind our supporter bays in Campbelltown.
“This only adds to the feeling of intimidation experienced by the families that largely make up our supporter base.”
Lederer said it was wrong for isolated incidents of anti-social behaviour by individuals – which he condemned – to lead to collective punishment of people who have done nothing wrong.
Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer.© Louie Douvis
“We recognise and respect the responsibility of NSW Police, stadium authorities and the A-Leagues to ensure everyone’s safety. But that responsibility must be exercised fairly, consistently and with respect for those attending our matches,” he said.
“For over a decade, we have worked in good faith with the relevant authorities, investing significant time in constructive dialogue and building relationships to address longstanding challenges.
“But our patience and willingness to work collaboratively should never be mistaken for acceptance. Our members and fans have waited long enough, and deserve to be treated with common sense and the utmost respect.
“As chairman, I have a responsibility to protect the future of the Western Sydney Wanderers. That means standing up for the people who give this club life. I will not accept our members and fans being treated as though their passion makes them any less deserving of respect. Neither will this club.”
However, Lederer’s comments are unlikely to have the desired impact, with NSW Police releasing a statement indicating they remain unmoved. A request for a wider interview with a police spokesperson on this subject was declined.
“The NSW Police Force deploys resources to major events, including sporting games, based on intelligence-led risk assessments,” a spokesperson said.
“These assessments consider information from a wide range of sources and are conducted to ensure an appropriate policing response.
“The NSW Police Force will continue to deploy appropriate staff to events to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all attendees.”
The Australian Professional Leagues, which the RBB criticised in a social media statement last week for being “complicit in their silence” while leveraging active fans to market the A-League, was contacted for comment.
Sydney FC’s main supporter group, The Cove, also released a statement after last month’s season-opening derby against the Wanderers at Allianz Stadium, detailing the “worst policing standards in the 14 years of the Sydney derby,” including an instance where a 17-year-old was allegedly “slammed repeatedly” into a safe standing railing by police, and five others who were allegedly handcuffed, evicted from the stadium and then released without explanation.
“This derby was the nail in the coffin that proved NSW Police … are not there to serve and protect the public. Instead, they create tension, assault innocents and aggressively target members who are passionate about our game,” The Cove’s statement, published on October 20, reads.
The Red and Black Bloc, the Wanderers’ active supporter group, said they were told they would have to surrender drums, megaphones and banners to police for two hours before their arrival at Campbelltown Stadium for Saturday’s clash against Macarthur FC, and that they would only returned if fans were deemed to have “behaved” appropriately.
In response, the RBB chose to stay silent for the first 20 minutes of the match in a demonstration against what they described as being “treated like criminals” – and afterwards, both coaches expressed support for the protest, with Macarthur’s Sasa Ognenovski warning that fans “won’t turn up” if they continued to be unfairly restricted.
Now the Wanderers have formally entered the fray via a 639-word open letter from Lederer, amounting to the most pointed criticism of police by an A-League club in many years.
Lederer described the weekend’s events represented a “tipping point” in relation to how supporters are managed, and said there was “no justification” for the presence at games of riot police at games.
“For too long, our supporters have faced excessive policing, policing that you as members and fans pay for,” Lederer wrote.
Wanderers fans hold up a protest banner on Saturday night.© Getty Images
“Recent examples of this include, hundreds of fans being withheld from entering the Sydney Derby for up to 30 minutes, the moving goalposts around concession items, and over the weekend, up to 20 Public Order and Riot Squad officers were positioned at times behind our supporter bays in Campbelltown.
“This only adds to the feeling of intimidation experienced by the families that largely make up our supporter base.”
Lederer said it was wrong for isolated incidents of anti-social behaviour by individuals – which he condemned – to lead to collective punishment of people who have done nothing wrong.
Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer.© Louie Douvis
“We recognise and respect the responsibility of NSW Police, stadium authorities and the A-Leagues to ensure everyone’s safety. But that responsibility must be exercised fairly, consistently and with respect for those attending our matches,” he said.
“For over a decade, we have worked in good faith with the relevant authorities, investing significant time in constructive dialogue and building relationships to address longstanding challenges.
“But our patience and willingness to work collaboratively should never be mistaken for acceptance. Our members and fans have waited long enough, and deserve to be treated with common sense and the utmost respect.
“As chairman, I have a responsibility to protect the future of the Western Sydney Wanderers. That means standing up for the people who give this club life. I will not accept our members and fans being treated as though their passion makes them any less deserving of respect. Neither will this club.”
However, Lederer’s comments are unlikely to have the desired impact, with NSW Police releasing a statement indicating they remain unmoved. A request for a wider interview with a police spokesperson on this subject was declined.
“The NSW Police Force deploys resources to major events, including sporting games, based on intelligence-led risk assessments,” a spokesperson said.
“These assessments consider information from a wide range of sources and are conducted to ensure an appropriate policing response.
“The NSW Police Force will continue to deploy appropriate staff to events to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all attendees.”
The Australian Professional Leagues, which the RBB criticised in a social media statement last week for being “complicit in their silence” while leveraging active fans to market the A-League, was contacted for comment.
Sydney FC’s main supporter group, The Cove, also released a statement after last month’s season-opening derby against the Wanderers at Allianz Stadium, detailing the “worst policing standards in the 14 years of the Sydney derby,” including an instance where a 17-year-old was allegedly “slammed repeatedly” into a safe standing railing by police, and five others who were allegedly handcuffed, evicted from the stadium and then released without explanation.
“This derby was the nail in the coffin that proved NSW Police … are not there to serve and protect the public. Instead, they create tension, assault innocents and aggressively target members who are passionate about our game,” The Cove’s statement, published on October 20, reads.
