Wanderers in hot water over fan violence, flares
Western Sydney Wanderers fans have landed themselves in hot water with alleged acts of violence carried out on a Sydney FC player and supporters in the aftermath of Saturday's dramatic Sydney derby.
One Wanderers fan faces possible criminal charges after slapping Sydney FC player Aaron Calver, while two Sydney FC fans were later hospitalised after allegedly being assaulted as they walked to the local train station.
Both incidents occurred after the final whistle, with Sydney FC having claimed a 4-3 win in a match they led 3-0 after only 25 minutes.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports 19-year-old defender Calver, who didn't play on Saturday, was making his way from the players' corporate box at Pirtek Stadium to the dressing room to celebrate with his teammates when he was accosted by a Wanderers supporter.
The man allegedly asked Calver whether he was friends with Sydney FC goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic, before making a threatening statement and striking Calver in the face with an open palm.
Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata told the Sydney Morning Herald the man had been apprehended by security.
"It goes without saying that we think that all members of our playing squad should be able to come to any match, watch the game and not be in danger," Pignata said.
"It's quite distressing for Aaron, a young player, who only just turned 19, to be confronted like that. Thankfully security were on the spot quickly.
"Aaron was visibly shaken by the event, as you would be. He wasn't hurt and he will be fine, but you certainly don't expect that – a slap across the face – to happen."
NSW Police and Football Federation Australia are both looking into the incident while Wanderers chief executive John Tsatsimas said the club was waiting on more details before it could take action.
The other violent altercation occurred as three Sydney FC fans made their way from the stadium to Parramatta train station after the game, and were allegedly set upon by a group of upto 30 men.
Sources told the Sydney Morning Herald the fans were punched, kicked and stomped on while on the ground by a large gang of men wearing black t-shirts with the insignia of a Western Sydney Wanderers' supporters group.
It has been reported two of the victims were taken to hospital, one with a broken leg and another with a broken wrist.
The FFA has not yet commented on this incident but already has its hands full as it is expected to launch an investigation over the igniting of flares by members of the Wanderers supporter group, the Red and Black Bloc, during the derby.
The head body has a zero-tolerance policy on flares and claims any fans who are identified as lighting them will be banned from attending games for five years.
Despite their success on the field, the Wanderers are building an increasingly tattered record off it, with their supporters involved in a number of incidents in the club's relatively short history.
Both the Wanderers and Melbourne Victory were handed a suspended deduction of three points after their fans were involved in brawls in the centre of the Melbourne CBD before a match last season.
A man from Baulkham Hills was charged in January after police found a cache of 50 marine flares in his car, which was parked near Pirtek Stadium before a Wanderers game.
Police have since requested the FFA hand the offender a five-year ban from A-League matches.