Soccer: Football chiefs back fans, urge FFA to take action

The FFA and its chief executive David Gallop have come under sustained pressure in the past 48 hours for their handling of the banned fans furore, with Melbourne Victory boss Ian Robson urging Gallop to talk to supporters to try to head off more walkouts and frustration over the way the sport is run.

"I've spoken to David Gallop this morning and I've urged him to come and meet with our fans," Robson told Melbourne radio station SEN on Wednesday. "He needs to invest some time, because this challenge we now have, potentially of boycotts, could really hurt us. And ultimately it's self-harm,

"I'm disappointed and frustrated if the fans feel that [a boycott] is the only way they can be heard."

Fans walked out midway through the Melbourne Victory-Adelaide and Central Coast Mariners-Western Sydney matches last weekend.

Sydney FC coach and former Socceroo boss Graham Arnold says the alienation of the supporter base is a huge problem that Gallop and the sport's leadership must address.

"The big concern is that if they're preparing to strike or boycott the game on Friday night against Newcastle. It just goes to show how big the issue is and how they feel about it. It's a massive issue that needs to be dealt with," said Arnold.

"I don't know the figures but I don't think anyone condones misbehaviour at games. You would hope that if there has been misbehaviour, that the FFA get it right. If they get it wrong, the fans have a right to a hearing."

Wellington Phoenix entertain Melbourne Victory, whose active supporter group walked out of the win over Adelaide last Saturday night in protest at the FFA's inaction. Phoenix fans issued a statement in support of the moves being taken in Australia.

However they say they can't join in because of the New Zealand club's ongoing licence saga problems with the FFA, which in a worst-case scenario could put them out of the league at the end of this season.