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The Guardian World1 min read
Australians slam ban on World Cup screenings at Federation Square
TL;DR
Australia has banned World Cup match screenings at Melbourne's Federation Square due to past fan misconduct. This marks the first time in over 20 years that the venue will not host screenings for the tournament.
Key points
- Australia bans World Cup screenings at Federation Square
- First ban in over 20 years for the venue
- Past fan behavior cited as reason for the ban
Football players, fans and officials in Australia have criticised the ban on World Cup match screenings at Melbourne’s Federation Square due to poor fan behaviour during Australia’s games in past tournaments.
The venue’s management said on Wednesday that the public square will not show any World Cup matches on its big screen for the first time in at least 20 years.
Hundreds of thousands of fans have gathered in the heart of Melbourne’s central business district to watch Australia matches at the square since the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Video of fans celebrating wildly went viral during the 2022 tournament in Qatar when Australia advanced to the round of 16.
A number of incidents soured the celebrations, though, with fans being injured by flares and projectiles.
Fans stormed barricades during the 2023 Women’s World Cup semifinal between Australia and England, prompting management to cancel plans to screen the Matildas’ subsequent third-place playoff at the square.
“After careful consideration, we’ve made the decision not to show the World Cup on Fed Square’s Big Screen this year,” Melbourne Arts Precinct Director and CEO Katrina Sedgwick said in a statement.
“This is due to the behaviour of a small number of people at previous screenings which was simply unacceptable and damaging to Fed Square.”
Fans watched several matches at the fan zone during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 [File: Hannah Mckay/Reuters]
The decision triggered a furious response from Australian football players, officials and a fan group, who said the majority of well-behaved supporters were being made to pay by a tiny minority.
“The pictures and videos of Fed Square during World Cup 2022 went viral around the world, we want to see this repeated,” Patrick Clancy, chair of the 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 this tradition,” Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler said.
Q&A
Why did Australia ban World Cup screenings at Federation Square?
The ban was implemented due to poor fan behavior during previous tournaments, including incidents involving flares and projectiles.
How long has Federation Square hosted World Cup screenings?
Federation Square has hosted World Cup screenings for at least 20 years, starting from the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
What incidents led to the decision to ban screenings at Federation Square?
Incidents of fan injuries caused by flares and projectiles during celebrations prompted the decision to ban screenings.
