AFL criticised for 'overbearing' security presence

Tensions over crowd control at AFL games have escalated with a former premier linking the capacity of security officers to their ethnic background.

Security at the Round 13 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne Source: AAP

Cheryl Critchley is a Richmond fan through-and-through. 

She's been attending football matches for more than forty years and has witnessed plenty of good and bad crowd behaviour.

But in an effort to crackdown on the bad, the freelance journalist believes authorities have gone too far:

The issue came to a head on the weekend, with unprecedented patrolling prompting some to complain of being too initimidated to open their mouths.

AFL Fans Association president Gerry Eeman says the league needs to listen to the fans.