Fan violence like Paris attacks, says Jones

CONTROVERSIAL Australian broadcaster Alan Jones might have some explaining to do to his listeners this week after comparing arrests at A-League games to the recent terrorism attacks in Paris.

The 74-year-old shock-jock was hosting his breakfast radio show when he made the remarks at the end of a segment with Rebecca Wilson, a journalist who published a story on Sunday identifying 198 people banned from A-League matches.

Jones, a former rugby league and rugby union coach, described the story as the A-League’s ‘‘shame file’’.

The story provoked a significant online backlash against Wilson, who has drawn the ire of Western Sydney Wanderers fans in the past.

She has been openly critical of the way the issue of fan violence has been handled by the football federation, claiming other sports do not have similar problems.

‘‘The view from Football Federation Australia is we’ll prove that we’re doing something,’’ Wilson said.

‘‘Some of the extent of their offences would make your eyes water and would seriously make you question whether or not you would ever go to any A-League game at all.

‘‘What it shows is there’s a much larger problem there and it’s a cultural problem within the sport.’’

Jones then put the question to Wilson that sent social media into meltdown yesterday.

‘‘Is this like terrorism in Paris? The leaders have no guts?’’ he asked, to which Wilson replied: ‘‘That’s exactly right, Alan.’’

Veteran journalist George Donikian, speaking on The Daily Football Show, said Jones’ comments were out of line.

‘‘Even I am flabbergasted, that’s not a long bow, that’s just preposterous. You can’t say that in this day and age.’’