We see you and we're coming after you.
That's the warning to trouble-making fans from Football Federation Australia after it charged the Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers over the ugly conduct of fans last Saturday, threatening both with the loss of three competition points for further breaches.
"It's time for us to say that enough is enough," said A-League boss Damien de Bohun, who revealed that 99 fans had been banned from attending A-League games in the past 18 months.
"Today we are saying that maintaining the Hyundai A-League as a safe, family-friendly environment is of paramount importance. It's number one."
De Bohun spoke after FFA boss David Gallop clamped down hard, charging the Victory and Wanderers with bringing the game into disrepute following the street brawl before Saturday's match at AAMI Park and problems at the game.
Gallop revealed both clubs had received previous written warnings about their fans' behaviour.
He also slammed the two clubs for their public statements this week which pointed the finger at the other's supporters.
The clubs have until 5pm Tuesday to respond to the disrepute charges and face having three competition points suspended, to be removed if there are further problems this season.
Such action could have a drastic outcome as the Wanderers are currently second on the ladder and the Victory third, and a points deduction could potentially cost them home advantage in the finals.
"Loss of points that have been won fairly on the pitch is a harsh penalty, but it's in equal measure to the enormous damage caused by the type anti-social behaviour seen in Melbourne last Saturday," said Gallop.
"The troublemakers are hurting the club they claim to support. They need to understand that the consequences of their reckless conduct will be felt on the A-League competition table if trouble persists."
De Bohun believed such sanctions may be unprecedented.
"Specifically suspending points for crowd behaviour may possibly be a world-first," he said.
"The true fans of football will embrace where we're heading. People will say that enough is enough."
So far two Sydney men have been charged by police with multiple offences following the Melbourne street brawl.
Despite the finger-pointing by the clubs, de Bohun was in no doubt supporters from both were at fault and would be identified and dealt with.
"I've been fully briefed by Victorian police over the recent days and they've demonstrated to me beyond any doubt that fans from both (clubs) were involved in the unacceptable scenes in Melbourne on the 28th of December," he said.
"If you go through the briefing that I went through, it was very clear about exactly who was involved and so we have every confidence that we'll be able to identify individuals."
De Bohun said the league had been working closely with the police.
"Some 99 fans have been banned over the last 18 months who we've identified working with the clubs, with the authorities and with the stadiums," he said.
"We'll continue down that path to make the sure the vast majority of fans ... are not affected by those few idiots who want to misbehave."
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