- Violence at youth football matches on the rise in Sydney
- Video footage showed parents fighting over the weekend
- Authorities have explained the cause of the increase in violence.
An ugly fight between parents at a children’s football match has highlighted a worrying rise in clashes at youth matches.
A video shows parents storming the pitch during an under-eights match between Quakers Hill Tigers and Marayong Football Club in Sydney’s west and pushing each other, forcing the two clubs into crisis talks.
Clubs are concerned about an escalation of violence in the under-eights competition between parents, while the referee at last weekend’s match was also just 12.
Marayong chairman Naji El-Kazzi said: “The incident itself was disappointing. It is not something we will tolerate.”
A concerned local resident also told 7News: “These are role models for these children and that is just not acceptable.”
Blacktown District Football Association chief executive Bill Owen described the ugly scenes as unacceptable.
“No eight-year-old child should be subjected to, or be around, or see that kind of violence at any level,” she said during crisis talks on Tuesday.
Owens also revealed that COVID has caused a change in parental behavior at youth football games.
Parental violence has plagued an under-8s football competition in Sydney
A league official revealed why violence between parents at games has increased
“Since COVID hit, there’s been a slow rise in violence,” he said.
“There has to be a level of responsibility and accountability and, knowing that, there will be consequences for those members who break our rules and regulations,” Owen said.
‘Our priority is the children.
‘They come first, because everyone has the right to play the game.’
The governing body is now investigating the lead-up to the fight and has promised to hand out short-term suspensions to those involved.
