MELBOURNE, May 6 (Reuters) – Melbourne’s Fed Square will not show World Cup matches on the big screen for the first time in more than two decades due to poor behavior by fans during the matches in Australia, the venue’s management said on Wednesday.
Since the 2006 World Cup in Germany, hundreds of thousands of fans have gathered in the heart of Melbourne’s central business district to watch Australia’s matches in the square.
Video of fans celebrating wildly went viral during the 2022 tournament in Qatar as Australia advanced to the round of 16. However, a number of incidents soured the festivities, with fans injured by flares and projectiles.
Fans stormed the barricades during the 2023 Women’s World Cup semi-final between Australia and England, prompting management to cancel plans to screen the Matildas’ subsequent third-place play-off on the square.
‘HARMFUL TO FED SQUARE’
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision not to show the World Cup on the big screen at Fed Square this year,” Katrina Sedgwick, director and CEO of Melbourne Arts Precinct, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Darrian Traynor via Getty Images
“This is due to the behavior of a small number of people at previous screenings, which was simply unacceptable and harmful to Fed Square.”
The decision sparked an angry response from Australian football experts and a fan group, who said the majority of well-behaved supporters were being left to pay by a small minority.
“The photos and videos of Fed Square during the 2022 World Cup went viral around the world and we would like to see this repeated,” Patrick Clancy, chairman of Football Supporters Association Australia, told local media.
Football Australia said they were extremely disappointed and urged the Melbourne Arts Precinct to reverse its decision.
“Melbourne is one of Australia’s sporting and multicultural capitals, and this decision goes against that tradition,” said Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler.
“Federation Square has created some of the most memorable moments in Australian sporting history, dating back to the Socceroos’ historic 2006 FIFA World Cup matches and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We ask our fans to join us in calling on the Melbourne Arts Precinct and the Victorian Government to correct their decision in the best interests of football fans, local businesses and all Victorians.”
Australia will play against Turkey, Paraguay and the United States at the World Cup from June 11 to July 19.
