Footy fun police told to back off
FOOTY greats have called on the AFL to ease off fans or risk turning them away from the game in the wake of increased spectator surveillance and security in the stands.
After weeks of tension between fans and the AFL over crowd violence, evictions and behaviour, footy powerbrokers yesterday called on the league to show fans more respect.
It comes after the AFL came under fire for use of “Behavioural Awareness Officers’’ at league-owned Marvel Stadium to monitor crowds.
Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton described the use of the security officers at the Docklands venue on Saturday night as “the most ridiculous principle the AFL has instituted in years’’.
“How ridiculous to infringe on people’s basic human rights to go along and enjoy their lifestyle, the way they have for over 100 years,’’ he said. “It really angered me to see that.’’
The AFL did not respond to questions about crowd behaviour and fans.
Former North Melbourne star Sam Kekovic said fans deserved better.
“It’s the people’s game and they’ve been disenfranchised, they’ve almost become a political football,’’ he said.
“I don’t know what the AFL’s agenda is, but they’ve basically become s ocial reformers and they almost want to be a political party.’’
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the AFL “runs the risk of destroying a lifetime and history of what football means to the community’’ by telling fans how to behave.
Marvel Stadium chief executive Michael Green told News Corp it had increased security patrols of fan bays in recent weeks and admitted it may have unwittingly intimidated fans.
He said the venue would review its security arrangements in response to complaints from fans but Behavioural Awareness Officers would be used at AFL matches for the rest of the season.
They would also be used at Big Bash cricket and A-League soccer games, an upcoming Australia-Team USA basketball series and concerts.