Football Australia pledged strong and swift action on Sunday after the Australia Cup final was marred by “anti-social behaviour” by fans.
Over 16,000 fans attended Saturday’s football final at Western Sydney Stadium as Macarthur FC recorded a 2-0 win over semi-professional Sydney United 58.
According to reports from Australian media, fans sang and booed during the “Welcome To Country” ceremony.
Images on social media also appeared to show Nazi salutes performed by supporters of Sydney United 58, formed as Sydney Croatia in 1958 and a powerhouse in the National Soccer League that preceded the formation of the A-League in 2004.
Football Australia said it condemned the behavior of a “small minority of people”.
“Football Australia is today evaluating all available footage and images of specific individuals of significance to our organization and the broader Australian football community, including depictions of the ‘Hitler salute,'” the country’s football association said in a statement on Sunday.
“Football Australia is working closely with CommBank Stadium management and the New South Wales Police to take firm and swift action against any identified anti-social behavior which may also be considered illegal in the State of NSW.
“Football Australia will have discussions with Sydney United 58 FC over the behavior of certain fans which could lead to sanctions against both individuals and clubs.”
Earlier Sunday, Professional Footballers Australia co-CEOs Beau Busch and Kathryn Gill said that “universal values like fairness, respect and courage” had been “destroyed”.
“Our sport needs to respond now and players are committed to playing an important role,” Busch and Gill said in a statement. “An effective response will not be developed by focusing on whether or not these acts were committed by a minority.”
Former Sydney United and Australia player Craig Foster tweeted: “Everyone involved must be held accountable including the club.”