AFL fans will push back if they continue to be silenced by security guards, Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett has said.
Security at games has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after several fans were removed from games for chants that were deemed inappropriate.
A Carlton fan was kicked out of Marvel Stadium for calling an umpire a ‘bald-headed flog’ and a Richmond supporter was banned for three matches for calling an umpire a ‘green maggot’.
Over the weekend Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium introduced behavioral awareness officers to watch fans, a move that officials admitted went ‘too far’.
Over the weekend Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium introduced behavioral awareness officers to watch fans, a move that officials admitted went ‘too far.’
Former Victorian Premier Kennett said fans will not stand for being told what they can and cannot say.
‘If the AFL is going to be the adjudicators of how people are participating in the game or there is an “expression force” that is coming in to tell people what they can say, they are playing with fire,’ he told The Australian.
‘The more the AFL tells the public whether they can boo or not, the more likely they are to go the other way. We have been doing it for 150 years, for goodness sake.’
Fans were left outraged after spotting the behavioral awareness officers.
Essendon Fan Robert Shaw wrote on Twitter: ‘What’s happening to our game? Forty years in the game and played, coached and spectated at some inhospitable (wonderful) rival grounds. This is a first for me. Have we really got to this? So sad if we have.’
AFL cheer squads are claiming they’re the subject of surveillance after members have been regularly reprimanded for verbally abusing umpires during games. Pictured: Richmond Tigers fans in April
Hawthorn President and former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett (centre) said fans will not stand for being told what they can and cannot say
Fan David Winch replied with a quote from Roman historian Tacitus: ‘The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.’
Another added: ‘Political correctness gone into new levels not seen’, while one wrote simply: ‘The day the music died.’
Marvel Stadium chief executive Michael Green said increased security would be reviewed.
‘We haven’t had any direction or requests to increase our security or policing at AFL events, nor have we done,’ he told Melbourne radio station SEN.
‘But what we have done over the last number of weeks is increase our visual presence of our security.
‘Clearly, from (the feedback) we’ve taken that too far.
‘We don’t want our fans to feel intimidated by security. We actually want them to feel safe and secure, so it’s something that we will be reviewing to make sure that we get that balance right.’
Footy fans claim they’re being spied on while cheering in the stands at AFL games, after league CEO Gillon McLachlan denied a crackdown on fan behaviour
Journalist and football presenter Nat Edwards took to Twitter to say the fans in her section of the stadium felt like they were always being watched
He said only four fans were evicted from the two matches at the stadium over the weekend.
Fans Association President Gerry Eeman said in a statement: ‘Violence, umpire abuse and threatening behaviour are never ok.
‘But some fans are telling us that they feel they can’t express themselves at games in the same way they did in the past.
On June 1 when a Carlton fan was kicked out of Marvel Stadium at half-time for calling umpire Matthew Nicholls (pictured) a ‘bald-headed flog’
‘A balance needs to be struck between protecting patrons from the small minority who cause problems and allowing the vast majority of well-behaved fans to express their passion.
‘There is nothing wrong with barracking loudly for your team and there is nothing wrong with being passionate.’
Cheer squads at Friday’s game between Essendon and Hawthorn at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium said they felt uncomfortable and awkward due to the extra scrutiny.
Journalist and football presenter Nat Edwards said on Twitter the fans in her section of the stadium felt like they were always being watched.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has denied a league-wide crackdown on crowd behaviour in the stands.
‘Booing has been part of our game for 100 years… people boo umpires all the time,’ McLachlan told 3AW.
‘I can’t prescribe for you respectful behaviour, what words are and aren’t acceptable, the fans decide in the end.’
‘Everyone should feel comfortable at the football… there’s been no change in policy, I want to be clear that they should go and express themselves at the game, but it has to be respectful, and that’s the way it’s always been.’
The controversy began June 1 when a Carlton fan was kicked out of Marvel Stadium at half-time for calling an umpire a ‘bald-headed flog’.
Collingwood fan Simon Grech said he was threatened with eviction from the Cricket Ground on Monday night for ‘barracking too loud’.
Earlier this week, Brett Beattie from Richmond’s cheer squad said he witnessed security guards from the AFL integrity unit dressed up ‘like FBI agents’ during games.
Mr Beattie told The Herald Sun there was a notably beefed up security presence after a Richmond fan called an umpire a ‘green maggot’ during a Round 5 clash against Hawthorn.
Collingwood fans have been backed by rivals in calling out the AFL in how fans are being treated at Melbourne matches. They are threatening to boycott the game
‘We have noticed a massive increase in security around the cheer squad bays the last couple of weeks,’ he said.
‘There are two guys dressed up like FBI agents from the integrity department and a spotter who points us out to the integrity guys and takes photos and sends it to the club and tries to ban us.’
The AFL’s most famous fan, Collingwood cheer squad fanatic Jeff ‘Joffa’ Corfe slammed the league by saying he will be boycotting games until McLachlan apologises to fans for how they’ve been treated this season.
Channel Seven reporter Tom Brown said the fan controversy and fan behaviour is the ‘major issue of the week’ fans were captured on camera being told to calm down by security.
Other footage showed rowdy fans being kicked out of a Carlton v Western Bulldogs game.
Collingwood fan Simon Grech (pictured) said he was threatened with eviction from the Cricket Ground on Monday night for ‘barracking too loud’