Harsh penalties after Sydney soccer riot

Press, 12 July 1985, Page 21

Harsh penalties after Sydney soccer riot

NZPA-AAP Sydney The national executive director of the Australian Soccer Federation, Mr Brian Emery, has no doubt that recommendations handed down at a marathon meeting on Tuesday evening on Sunday’s Sydney soccer brawl at Pratten Park will be greeted with enthusiasm. The 4V2-hour meeting of the National Soccer League’s executive directed that the Sydney OlympicClub be banned from playing at Pratten Park, its home ground, and be fined sAustlo,ooo (514,400) as a result of the riot which led to the abandonment of its match with Sydney City. Mr Emery said that he

would notify Queensland, South Australian, and Western Australian members about the directive. He expected that the recommendations would be endorsed by all members of the soccer league.

The executive ruled also that Sydney Olympic should help the police identify offenders who invaded the pitch. All offenders would be barred for life from attending future soccer matches.

The executive announced that security normally required by the league would be doubled for Sydney Olympic’s remaining “home” matches. The “home" matches will be

played at other pitches deemed more secure. The league’s executive director, Mr Stefan Kamasz, delivered seven recommendations which left no doubt that violence at Australian soccer matches would not be tolerated.

“This executive views the events of last Sunday with great concern, particularly in view of the progress made by our code in recent years,” Mr Kamasz said. Sunday’s match was stopped in the thirty-third minute when more than 200 spectators invaded the pitch after the referee. Mr Ken Small, sent an Olympic striker. Marshall Soper, from the field.