Updated ,first published
Football Australia has ramped up pressure on the state government to reverse the decision to not screen Socceroos matches at Federation Square during the FIFA World Cup, which begins next month.
Melbourne Arts Precinct director and chief executive Katrina Sedgwick, who oversees the public square, said the decision was reached after careful consideration from the organisation in relation to inappropriate fan behaviour at previous viewing sessions, citing the lighting of more than 120 flares or fireworks during one match.
But FA and soccer fans fumed over the decision with the governing body speaking with the government and MAP on Wednesday, calling for the decision to be overturned.
“Live sites create iconic moments for Australian sports fans. They bring all Australians together to celebrate and cheer our national teams competing on the biggest stage,” FA chief executive Martin Kugeler said on Wednesday evening.
“Melbourne is one of Australia’s sporting and multicultural capitals, and this decision goes against this tradition.
“Federation Square has created some of the most memorable moments in Australian sporting history, dating back to the Socceroos’ historic 2006 FIFA World Cup matches and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” Kugeler said.
“This decision is disappointing, and we are asking our fans to join us in calling on the Melbourne Arts Precinct and the Victorian government to correct their decision in the best interests of football fans, local businesses and all Victorians.”
Sedgwick announced the decision on Wednesday, saying: “We’ve made the decision not to show the World Cup on Fed Square’s Big Screen this year. This is due to the behaviour of a small number of people at previous screenings which was simply unacceptable and damaging to Fed Square.
“There will be plenty of other places getting into the World Cup spirit, and we encourage football fans to check out what’s on in venues across the city, and in their local areas,” she said.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr criticised the decision on social media on Wednesday evening, sharing an Instagram post announcing the news that was captioned: “Booooooooooo”.
Patrick Clancy, chair of Football Supporters Association Australia, similarly condemned the move, saying fans should not have to suffer because of a “few bad eggs”. He called instead for risk mitigation measures to be put in place.
“We are very disappointed in the comments from Federation Square that they are not going to go ahead with the live event … Fed Square is hugely popular with football fans, and people interested in the World Cup,” Clancy said.
“It has delivered iconic images that demonstrate our love for the game … We think that we should be celebrating this event, one of the biggest in the world. And we should be doing it in the best way possible.”
Appearing on 3AW radio on Wednesday evening, Sedgwick said the use of flares created a major safety issue, with previous incidents during public screenings forcing the precinct to halt the screening of matches.
“A small group of fans got into the excitement by bringing flares into the space. And the issue wasn’t just lighting them and waving them around, the challenge was lighting them and hurling them into a crowded space,” she said.
“After the last Socceroos [World Cup] game that we screened, we picked up over 120 flares or fireworks, so we weren’t talking about a small issue, it was very significant.”
Sedgwick added that it wasn’t possible to completely fence off the space and make it a ticketed event because the square has too many access points.
“It is [final] unfortunately. We’ve got a venue that is what it is. It’s a heritage-listed site, built in a way that isn’t designed to handle this level of security that is required to manage a small group smuggling in dangerous weapons.”
Federation Square has long been considered a popular location to watch major sporting events, including matches for both the Socceroos and the Matildas during major tournaments. At the last men’s World Cup in 2022, fans described the atmosphere following Australia’s win over Denmark as among the best they had ever experienced.
In a social media post on X, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster called on Premier Jacinta Allan to intervene in the decision, calling it “ridiculous”.
“It’s an important time for Aussies to feel together, watch the world’s largest sporting event, share in the national spirit,” Foster wrote.
Public viewing locations for this year’s tournament are yet to be announced and are the responsibility of the Victorian state government, which has been contacted for comment.
Paul Scully, the NSW minister for planning and public spaces, released a boastful statement that criticised the decision not to proceed with a Fed Square screening.
“While others are choosing to scale back, NSW is focused on bringing fans together and building the atmosphere that major tournaments deserve,” Scully said.
“Victoria might have done well out of the GST-carve up, but when it comes to FIFA World Cup live sites, it’ll be Sydney kicking the goals.”
The Socceroos qualified for this year’s World Cup last June following an away win against Saudi Arabia, marking their sixth successive appearance at the tournament.
The World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11, with matches to take place across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The Socceroos will face Turkey in Vancouver on June 14 for their first group stage match.
Melbourne Arts Precinct has previously faced criticism following event cancellations at Federation Square. Last November, a free performance by Australian rock band Amyl and the Sniffers was cancelled minutes before it was scheduled to commence due to safety concerns.
Sedgwick announced the news to a booing crowd, and blamed a number of security and safety issues. In a later statement, she said the concert would have been “unsafe for the audience, staff and the band to continue with the show”.
With Vince Rugari
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