Club Statement: Preston Lions
Now that the dust has settled following Saturday’s match, South Melbourne FC remains profoundly disappointed by the abhorrent behaviour displayed by a section of Preston Lions supporters. The misogynistic, racist and offensive banners and chants directed towards women and members of the Greek Australian community have no place in football or in Australian society. Such conduct is completely inconsistent with the values our game should represent and has caused significant distress to families, women, children and members of our wider community who attended the match.
In the lead up to the fixture, South Melbourne FC worked collaboratively with Football Victoria, Preston Lions, Victoria Police, the State Sport Centres Trust and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the match could proceed safely with supporters from both clubs in attendance. This was despite many people urging our club not to allow away supporters into the venue. We remained committed to the principle that football should be played in an environment where passionate support can coexist with respect, safety and inclusion. We are immensely proud that our members and supporters remained disciplined throughout the afternoon, focused solely on supporting our team and refusing to engage with or respond to the unacceptable behaviour they witnessed.
South Melbourne FC is proudly one of Australia’s most inclusive football clubs. Founded by Greek migrants more than six decades ago, our club has evolved into an organisation that today represents Australia on the international stage while welcoming people from every background, culture and community. We are proud to champion equality through our women’s football program, provide opportunities for women and girls both on and off the field, and invest in programs that ensure people living with disability can participate in and enjoy our game. Since Saturday, we have received hundreds of complaints and messages from members of our community expressing their outrage and disappointment at what occurred. We have also been contacted by clubs from across Victoria who have implored us to take a stand. We believe we have a responsibility to do exactly that and to speak out against behaviour that is misogynistic, racist and discriminatory in any form.
South Melbourne FC has formally lodged a complaint with Football Victoria and expects this matter to be dealt with appropriately and decisively. We will continue to cooperate fully with Football Victoria and the relevant authorities throughout their investigation and will advocate for meaningful action that protects the integrity of our game. Football must remain a safe, respectful and family-focused environment for all participants and supporters. There is no place in our game for misogyny, racism, discrimination or vilification, and we will continue to stand with everyone who believes football should unite communities, not divide them.
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