Football NSW hands down penalties following brawl at match in Sydney’s south

Football NSW has announced that it has found Rockdale Ilinden FC and Sydney United 58 FC guilty of a number of offences following crowd disturbances at the Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre in Sydney’s south on 25th April 2021.

Both teams were charged following a brawl between rival spectators at the close of a National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 1 football match game – in incidents which led the NSW Police to create a ‘Strike Force’ to investigate the violence.

After an extensive investigation into those incidents, Football NSW laid a number of charges against both clubs for alleged breaches of the Football NSW Grievance and Disciplinary Regulations (Regulations).

The charges related to incidents which occurred during the game and inside the ground, as well as the post-match disturbances between spectators of both clubs.

Those charges were heard before the Football NSW General Purposes Tribunal (GPT) on 19th July with its determination released on 10th August 2021.

Both clubs were found guilty of a number of offences, including for conduct that brings the game into disrepute in relation to the involvement of their spectators in the post-match riot, and were issued with the following overall sanctions:

Rockdale Ilinden FC:

• $11,500 in fines payable immediately and the loss of six Premiership Points in the 2021 season; and

• $6,000 in fines and loss of six Premiership Points (both suspended, with the suspension triggered upon a finding of guilt for contravention of specified offences during the 2022 season).

Sydney United 58 FC:

• $11,000 in fines payable immediately and the loss of six Premiership Points in the 2021 season; and

• $9,000 in fines and loss of six Premiership Points (both suspended, with the suspension triggered upon a finding of guilt for contravention of specified offences during the 2022 season).

In addition to the above sanctions, for the duration of the 2021 season and for the entirety of the 2022 season, all NPL and any FA Cup matches between the two clubs must be played behind closed doors.

Football NSW advised that “the difference in the amount of the fines payable by the clubs is due to the fact that not all of their charges in respect of incidents within the ground were identical.

“Both clubs received identical penalties in respect of the post-match riot.”

Football NSW went on to say “we take this opportunity to remind all of our stakeholders that Football NSW has a zero tolerance policy towards violent behaviour.

“The sanctions imposed are a reflection of how seriously Football NSW treats such incidents.”

Each club has strong ethnic links with Rockdale Ilinden FC having a Macedonian heritage and Sydney United 58 FC having Croatian roots.

Image: A fan invades the pitch during the match between Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney United 58 at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre/Bicentennial Park on 25th April 2021.