In the week that has passed since Western Sydney Wanderers fans clashed with their Melbourne Victory counterparts outside AAMI Park, we've seen a great deal of condemnation for football in Australia, and very little from anyone to refute some of the claims that have been made.

There has recently been a spate of bashings on Sydney's streets as young men struggle to handle their alcohol, and everyone is rightly horrified by these men who have ruined lives with their actions. Then, two seconds later, everyone turns around and celebrates former prime minister, Bob Hawke, slamming down a beer at the cricket.

Western Sydney Wanderers fans let off flares during the round 12 A-League match against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park. Credit:Getty Images

This is where the hypocrisy is most astounding. The Australian sporting public condemns the Melbourne Heart fan who king hit a Western Sydney Wanderers supporter at a game last year, but hails NSW captain Paul Gallen a hero for doing the same in front of 80,000 people in a State of Origin game.

Anti-football stories will almost always paint the image of the mystery "soccer hooligan", who lives his life on the fringes of society and exists only to cause trouble. The reality is that this person does not exist.