SOCCER chiefs have gone on the front foot in their bid to eradicate hooligans from the game, banning three men for up to five years from A-League games for their role in disturbances in the past week.

After further ugly scenes from last night’s trial match at Sydney United, Football Federation Australia confirmed it had identified three individuals from there and the altercation at last week’s Sydney FC trial game in Campbelltown.



A man identified as having thrown a flare has been banned for five years from A-League and Socceroos games, while another fan who allegedly assaulted him in retaliation will also be banned, the exact term yet to be decided.



A-League officials have also moved quickly to identify the Sydney United fan who began the disturbance at Edensor Park last night by letting off a firecracker.



He will also be banned for five years from all A-League and Socceroos games.



It marks a continuation of the authorities' determination to quell the damaging headlines sparked by a small minority of fans, which has included the zero tolerance policy of police in arresting those letting off fireworks and flares.



"The troublemakers who bring the game into disrepute with their reckless behaviour have no place in the game," said FFA CEO Ben Buckley this afternoon.



"The incidents at Campbelltown and Edensor Park over the past week were the work of a few idiots who wanted to cause trouble.

"Football at all levels will spend whatever time and effort is required to ensure matches are played in a family-friendly atmosphere where people can enjoy football."

The fans will also not be allowed entry to state league games, such as those played by Sydney United, after FootballNSW this afternoon announced it would also implement similar bans on all three offenders.

Last night, several dozen United fans tried to stop officers making an arrest, forcing police to use pepper spray and police dogs. The incident came a week after a flare was thrown and a child hurt at another soccer game

The ugly scenes occurred at the Edensor Park home of Sydney United, where the new A-League team Western Sydney Wanderers was playing a trial match against the Croatian-backed Premier League side.

In the first few minutes of the game, a United fan let off a firecracker that reverberated around the ground.

When police moved in swiftly to arrest him, a few dozen United fans fought back.

Police used pepper spray to subdue the disturbance.

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Police dogs and reinforcements arrived at the ground within moments and several United fans were removed from the rear of the ground.

Within minutes police had cleared the corner of the ground occupied by the United fans, as the Red and Black Bloc Wanderers' core support group kept to their own section. "A number of people have been ejected from (the) match," a police spokesman said last night.

media_camera Sydney United FC fan gets pepper sprayed. Picture: Gregg Porteous

"The trouble began when a firecracker was thrown into a section of the crowd. In total 11 people have been removed from the ground and one person has been arrested."

There was anger among the United supporters afterwards, but the heavy police presence prevented further disturbances. Photographs depicting fans being pepper sprayed and engaging in fights with police will make a concerning sight for Gallop, who it was announced on Tuesday will succeed Ben Buckley as CEO of Football Federation Australia.

Though the disturbance was relatively brief, and quickly quelled by the police, the images will also infuriate the game's leaders after the scenes at last week's Sydney FC trial match in Campbelltown.

Two men have been charged over that incident, when a flare was thrown and a six-year-old child hit in the head by a rock.

Last night's scenes were also embarrassing for the home team, a stalwart of the NSL but now playing in the NSW Premier League.

The one thing that will please Football Federation officials and the Wanderers was that their supporters were loud but impeccably behaved.

A handful of supporters claiming to represent the Wanderers had allegedly been the instigators of last week's trouble, though they were quickly disowned by the Red and Black Bloc and the club itself. Wanderers chairman Lyall Gorman said anyone involved in such scenes should be barred from the A-League.

He was at pains to say last night's troublemakers were not associated with his club.

media_camera Sydney United FC fan gets taken away by police after a firecracker was let off. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Privately, FFA officials last night were hoping the swift police response has shown that any breach of the spectators' rules will be met with zero tolerance this season.

Gorman declined to comment on the United fans last night but praised the Wanderers supporters for the way they behaved. "I thought our fans were exemplary, and showed what we stand for as a club," he said. "They showed exactly the kind of behaviour we would want to see from them in any venue."

An FFA spokesman said any fans who were convicted of offences faced bans from the game. "FFA will condemn the few idiots who tried to spoil the night for 3000 others with such anti-social behaviour," the spokesman said.

"We have warned fans repeatedly about zero tolerance and tonight we saw a very swift and strong response from NSW Police and security.

"We deeply regret this on an occasion when the Wanderers are invited to play at one of the big Premier League clubs and the vast majority of supporters had a great night.

"We will work with Football NSW and Sydney United and any fans who are convicted will find they are not welcome in the game."

Mr Gallop is currently on his way to London for the Paralympics, as acting chair of the Australian Sports Commission, and will take over FFA later in the year.

Originally published as Soccer fans brawl with police