An investigation is underway after the allegations of certain spectators racily villed players in a football match in the best -classified football league in Victoria.
Two spectators present in the match last Friday between the Preston Lions FC and Heidelberg United FC told ABC that they had heard fans in the bonding of Preston supporters making “monkey” noise or a “monkey” song, apparently oriented towards opposing African descendants team players.
Home Soccer Club, Preston Lions FC, said he was aware of the issue.
He said he had referred to the incident to the Victoria and Victoria football police, and an investigation was underway.
Victoria football confirmed that it was investigating the incident.
Victoria police said they were aware of an incident during a football match in the tank on June 6, but had not received an official report.
The match was played in Reservoir in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, as part of the National League national competition from Victoria, which is the Victoria high-level football league and the second highest level of football in Australia, below the A-League.
He was followed by hundreds of people, including families.
The alleged songs came from the Preston fans region, say witnesses
Two spectators, who supported Preston, told the ABC that they had heard the racist songs and thought they came from a small number of supporters on their own team.
The spectators, who did not want to be appointed, were seated in an area designated for fans of the home club (Preston).
They thought the songs were directed against the Heidelberg FC players.
The ABC understands that at least two people contacted the club to report the alleged abuses after Friday evening’s match.
The players of the Heidelberg United FC celebrates in front of the Lions Preston fans at the NPL Vic Game in Reservoir last Friday. (Facebook: Heidelberg United Alexander FC))
Preston Director of Preston Lions FC, Jason Goldsmith, told the ABC that the club was aware of the issue and referred it to the authorities concerned but could not comment more during his investigation.
On social networks, the club published a statement saying that it was “worried to learn anti -social behavior” during the recent home game.
He declared that he was determined to implement the code of behavior of the spectator of football Victoria, which explicitly prohibits the “racist song”.
“Football is for everyone … Any individual or group tried to violate these codes will face serious disciplinary measures, including the club’s ban,” the statement said.
The club would also create a phone number to allow spectators to immediately report anti -social behavior during the next games.
The director general of Heidelberg United FC, Chris Pavlidis, said that he was surprised and disappointed to hear the reports but had heard no complaints from his players or coach of everything that is beyond “the wicks in stock”.
“If something like this had been brought to our attention, we would have immediately followed (football authorities)”, “
He said.
“None of the boys approached us with a complaint.”
Alternative abuses occurred in the context of an already vocal and active crowd
The two clubs of the match, as with many suburban football clubs, have a proud story of active support and ferocious rivalries among the spectators, which is why fans of the two teams were physically separated and sat in different fields.
Formed by Greek migrants, the Heidelberg United Football Club was previously known as Alexandre Le Grand, continues to present it on the Crest club and has in progress with the Greek community.
Preston Lions FC fans fill the stands in the match against the Heidelberg United FC in the tank last Friday. (Facebook: Preston Lions Football Club))
Formerly known as Preston Makedonia, the Preston Lions Football Club was created by Macedonian migrants and continues to have close links with the Macedonian community of Melbourne.
In recent years, Preston has made efforts to attract players and fans from the entire diversified community in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
“The reason we are going to Preston is that it is a very lively crowd, it is a good atmosphere,” said one of the participants who heard the alleged abuses at the ABC.
The other spectator who spoke with ABC of the incident declared that he was a regular participant in Preston Games.
He said he was aware of the typical culture of active support in football, with hoots and songs common to high -level suburban games – but it was different.
“When you cross the line in this manifest racism, and you specifically target black players, which was clearly, it is simply and clearly unacceptable”, “
He said.
The two spectators said that the song had started in a context of many huan who seemed to be disproportionately directed against the black players of Heidelberg.
Bul Juach, number 9, in action in the match against the Lions Preston on Friday, June 6. (Facebook: Preston Lions FC))
Among these players, there was Heidelberg United Fording Bul Juach, who was born in South Sudan and emigrated to Australia at the age of 12.
Juach scored the goal of the team for the outside team and celebrated the goal with teammates in front of the Preston supporter stand.
In a video broadcast of the game, the commentator noted that the celebration of Juach attracted “A Chorus of Boos”, which can be heard on the recording.
Although the alleged broadcast cannot be heard on video broadcasting, the couple who spoke to the ABC, who attended the game together, said that he was clearly audible from the interior of the stand.
The video broadcast shows the goals Bul Juach and his teammates celebrating and being hoa by the fans of the Preston Lions FC. (Youtube: Heidelberg United))
They said they heard other fans near them also commenting.
“Me and my friend could hear it, and we have somehow looked at … like:” Is that what I think it’s? “And then it was like, ‘Yes, that is to say’, said one of the people who spoke to the ABC.
“My friends and I were talking about that and as it is appalling.
“”I went to a lot of football matches and I have never experienced something like that.“”
The other spectator, who attended the match with his 11 -year -old son, said that he was specially faced for his son, who was not aware of the history of racial broadcasting in sport, Like the AFL Great Adam GODES hoots.
He said he was happy that the club investigates the reports and hoped for him.
“Whether or not we can support this club in the future really depends on how they react,” he said.
Preston Lions FC and Victoria football said they could not provide details on the incident during the investigation.
