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FFA will review banning policy, but “won’t take a backwards step”

Football Federation Australia chairman Steven Lowy has promised to review the A-League’s banned fans policy over the summer.

Dec 03, 2015, updated Dec 04, 2015
FFA chair Steven Lowy, flanked by CEO David Gallop. AAP Photo

FFA chair Steven Lowy, flanked by CEO David Gallop. AAP Photo

Fronting the media for the first time to discuss the snowballing issue which has led to walk-outs and fan protests, Lowy appealed for calm among A-League fans.

“Getting angry and frustrated isn’t getting us anywhere,” he said.

“We absolutely stand with the fans of football.”

Lowy differentiated between trouble-making fans and the vast majority of supporters, saying he intended to keep a hard line on fans who chose to break the law.

“We stand with the cast majority of fans that love the game,” he said.

“We don’t want people with flares. We don’t want anti-social behaviour.

“We won’t take a backwards step in rooting out the culprits.”

Lowy said he has met with NSW Commissioner of Police Andrew Scipione, the SCG Trust and the chairmen of A-League clubs to help understand and defuse the issue.

Chief executive David Gallop has also admitted he “got it wrong” when he failed to come out and dismiss a report run in News Corp Australia’s Sunday papers which named the 198 fans banned from A-League matches.

Lowy will take a proposal to review the banned fans policy to the FFA board later on Thursday, finalising a new policy by the next board meeting in February.

-AAP

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