FFA CEO David Gallop is confident the A-League will see an upswing in active support this season.
Melbourne Victory’s ‘North Terrace’ ceased as a group in late 2016 due to clashes with the club, but Victory have since launched a set of designated bays named ‘North End Standing’ areas for this upcoming season.
Other terraces have also had run-ins with police, with flares being a constant problem, but Gallop is hopeful the unsociable activity is behind them.
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“We are optimistic that we will have a bit of a regeneration of active support in our A-League games this year, but also provide a family safe environment for people to go to the football,” Gallop told SEN Breakfast.
“The word you used is the right one, balance.
“We don’t want to see anti-social behaviour but we also want to see that unique atmosphere that football fans bring into the grounds.
“We have worked hard with those active groups, not just in Melbourne, but in Sydney as well, worked with the police to make sure the balance is right in terms of the police presence.”
Listen to David Gallop’s chat with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast in the player below