Denial of fan freedom leads to speculation of underlying motives

MELBOURNE - As another derby between the Croatian community's beloved Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne passed by almost a fortnight ago, unfortunately, it would appear, the latest installment in this compelling historical saga won't be remembered for what happened on the pitch and the 2-0 victory to the Knights - which eventually saw the team jump to top spot on the ladder for the first time in many, many years.

Rather, it will evoke feelings of subjugation towards fans, as a display of over-exuberance from the authorities, on duty on the day, marred proceedings.... yet again.

The 'Croatian Herald', late last week, received an email letter from a group of concerned young fans who are fed up, as they claim, with the actions of police and security at Knights matches, as well as the inability of the current Knights' Board to look after the welfare of its own supporters.

We have reproduced the letter in its entirety below:

''Ask most people about the corresponding fixture last year and most likely you will hear stories of unwarranted brutality from police.

A middle aged man was taken to hospital with a broken leg last year, after being trampled by a police horse in the Melbourne Croatia beer garden, as well as a 60 year old man being pepper sprayed, for merely trying to diffuse a dangerous situation. This weekend, the same almost happened after a teenager was yet again, trampled on by a horse.

Understandably, the club needs to take certain measures in order to protect patrons and meet standards of the Football Federation of Victoria. However, the sort of crudeness and utter brutality shown by the authorities cannot be endorsed. Can it?

What happened on Sunday and of greatest concern, the inability of club officials to put a stop to the violence, indicates otherwise. This leads some to wonder whether club officials actually want to neglect the fans, who in effect did follow the rules of the FFV.

MCF (Melbourne Croatia Fans) as people may be aware of or not, regularly display their banners, which are over two metres in length, with some voicing heartfelt concern for the direction of the club. The FFV classifies the Melbourne Knights vs South Melbourne fixture as a high risk and, consequently, signs were placed on the entrance stating the conditions of entering the stadium.

It was stated that banners or flags over 1.8m by 0.9m would not be allowed to enter the stadium. Being aware of this, MCF obeyed the rules of the FFV and the club by not bringing any placards outside the specified dimensions, nor did they bring any national symbols, banners or flags that may have offended opposition fans.

So when police forces confront the fans, who had simply come to show support for the Knights, and take away a flag that complied with those rules and regulations, it at the least suggests rough treatment and general desire to silence supporters.

Apprehension towards such malice should be bad enough, yet more than five officers came over on foot - aided by a further four on horseback - to take away a flag that was less then half the size of that allowed? Clearly, it does not require that high a number of police to confiscate a flag which meant no offence to anyone attending in the first place.

It is the duty of the police to protect people from violence at 'high-risk' fixtures such as these, not to incite it. The police, obviously, did not take it upon themselves to bring down a banner with no offensive undertones.

They had to have been ordered by someone organising the fixture to seize it. Upon asking who it was that ordered the flag be taken down, both the board and federation denied any involvement.

To make matters worse, during the intermission, the gate was shut and people were told they would not be allowed back into the stadium if they left.

This has never been the case at any Knights game in the past 15 years and, in retrospect, taking such an illogical measure was bound to anger patrons. Whoever has gone to a Knights match over the years knows that there are children who play games on the second pitch and people try and beat the half-time rush to buy refreshments. 

Blocking off exits and unnecessary acts like it, not only confuse the masses, they, more importantly, create a safety risk. Causing a sense of panic is undoubtedly not what security and police forces were at the match for.

Perhaps the real question is why didn't the Knights' Board stop any of this? Why didn't the Board stand up for, as subdued it may sound, the few loyal supporters left at the club?

(President) Stanko Bilic did come to the scene of disruption in order to tell security to leave the gate open and let people back in after half-time. When they tell the president of the club to disappear and claim that they only answer to the one who hired them, it can only point towards undermining at the Board level.

Older supporters, who have on many occasions pointed the blame on younger fans looking for trouble when clashes broke out, voiced their concern for what was happening and, ultimately, the state of the club.

An objective of the Melbourne Knights this season was to get the Croatian community back onside. Yet actions such as this and the sustained desire, it seems, of Board members wanting to disregard the rich tradition this club has, are certainly not doing anyone any favours.

It does not take a marketing genius to realise what some officials at the Melbourne Knights are doing is greatly hurting the club and in turn, the community as a whole.

How do we attract young Croats to the club when they are treated like objects (and animals) at their home ground?

At the Annual General Meeting, club officials and members alike were worried at the distinct lack of younger supporters. Without wanting to appear too blunt or pessimistic, the blame falls on the knack of selfish officials who are only at the club for their own aims and go against the common good of the club.

Not much else could explain the exponential growth in Croatian community backed soccer clubs in Melbourne, founded by former, younger members of the Melbourne Knights who felt as though their opinions did not count for anything.

What some don't seem to realise is that the youth are the lifeblood of any ethnic community and to simply abandon them will lead to dissatisfaction and in the end, total collapse,'' concluded the letter to the 'Croatian Herald'  signed by ''Concerned members of the Community''.