Sydney (AFP) - Australian football chiefs on Thursday said they would review the A-League's banned fans policy in a desperate bid to make peace and avoid a damaging boycott of games by supporters this weekend.
But they also reaffirmed a zero tolerance stance towards anti-social behaviour.
Football Federation Australia is facing a fan revolt amid fury over the publication of a confidential list of supporters banned from stadiums around the country.
Anger over a perceived privacy breach flared when Sydney's Daily Telegraph last week published names and photos of 198 banned A-League fans, labelling some as "louts" while lashing out at spectator conduct.
The discontent quickly morphed into a backlash against FFA with supporters condemning its failure to defend fans over what it saw as biased media coverage, and for being out of touch with grassroots supporters of the game.
Fans at some of the league's best-supported clubs have vowed to boycott weekend games in protest until the FFA presents a transparent ban appeals process agreed upon by all parties.
Supporters have long held reservations over FFA's security policy, which provides banned spectators with no avenue for appeal. Several of those on the leaked list feel they have been wrongly banned.
"(FFA chief) David Gallop will tell the board we intend to review the ban process. We expect to be able to finalise it by next board meeting in February," FFA chairman Stephen Lowy told a press conference.
Football Federation Australia is facing a fan revolt amid fury over the publication of a confidential list of supporters banned from stadiums around the country.
Anger over a perceived privacy breach flared when Sydney's Daily Telegraph last week published names and photos of 198 banned A-League fans, labelling some as "louts" while lashing out at spectator conduct.
The discontent quickly morphed into a backlash against FFA with supporters condemning its failure to defend fans over what it saw as biased media coverage, and for being out of touch with grassroots supporters of the game.
Fans at some of the league's best-supported clubs have vowed to boycott weekend games in protest until the FFA presents a transparent ban appeals process agreed upon by all parties.
Supporters have long held reservations over FFA's security policy, which provides banned spectators with no avenue for appeal. Several of those on the leaked list feel they have been wrongly banned.
"(FFA chief) David Gallop will tell the board we intend to review the ban process. We expect to be able to finalise it by next board meeting in February," FFA chairman Stephen Lowy told a press conference.
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