Football Australia has issued a lifetime ban to one spectator following a series of ugly incidents at Saturday’s Australia Cup 2022 final at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
Parts of the 16,461 fans marred the Welcome to Country ceremony with boos and chants, while the coverage showed some performing a Nazi salute.
“Many of you would have witnessed the footage or seen the images,” FA boss James Johnson said in a letter to fans.
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“What should have been a celebration … has been marred by the actions of groups of a few people.
“Their actions have disrespected, hurt and offended members of our football community.”
Johnson said the investigation had identified one spectator who is now permanently banned from all NPL, A-Leagues, Australia Cup and national team matches.
The ban is effective immediately.
“The conduct in question relates to a fascist salute,” Johnson said.
“Football Australia has a zero-tolerance policy to disrespectful and offensive behaviour, and will not tolerate behaviour that has the potential to offend, insult, humiliate, disparage or vilify spectators, players or officials.”
Speaking on Stan Sport FC, Socceroos great Craig Foster said the actions of the fans was deplorable.
“It is the most abhorrent thing that we’ve seen at a football match for a very long time,” he said.
”The point is that something heinous has occurred here and the game has to be big enough, strong enough and devoted enough to its own principles, to take the absolute strongest action that can possibly be taken.”
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