CNN
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The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies has urged Football Australia to issue life bans on fans found to have displayed Nazi symbols and salutes during Saturday night’s Australia Cup final.
On Sunday, Football Australia said it will go through all the video footage and images it has from Saturday night’s Australia Cup final in Sydney after it was widely reported that some fans did “the Nazi salute”.
At Commbank Stadium, a near-record crowd of 16,461 watched Macarthur FC beat Sydney United 58 2-0.
But the game was marred by “anti-social behaviour” and eight people were evicted from the stadium during the final, Football Australia said in a statement.
According to reports from Australian media, some fans sang and booed during the “Welcome To Country” ceremony, a sacred indigenous tradition.
Images on social media also appeared to show Nazi salutes given by some supporters of Sydney United 58, a club founded by Croatian immigrants in 1958.
Football Australia, the sport’s governing body, said it would hold talks with Sydney United 58 and warned the club and individual fans could face sanctions.
Sydney United 58 did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
In its statement, Football Australia said it “strongly condemns the actions of a small minority of individuals who have engaged in conduct that is inconsistent with Football Australia’s values and the expectations of the wider community”.
It added: “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 governing body said it was working “closely” with stadium management and the New South Wales Police and would take “strong and swift action”.
Darren Bark, chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said in a statement to CNN: “These vile symbols and salutes have no place in modern Australian society. They represent the ultimate manifestation of evil – an evil that led to the murder of millions of innocent civilians during World War II, including six million Jews and thousands of Australian diggers who lost their lives fighting the Nazis during World War II.”
He added that the board “requests the board to take strong action against any fan who has participated in these acts, including the implementation of lifetime bans.”
“Football Australia should also work with Sydney United to address the worrying views that are revered by some of its fans,” he continued.
Crowd noise during Erin Wilkins’ pre-game Welcome to Country performance “reached an unacceptable level,” admitted Football Australia.
“We regret this has happened and are reviewing all available recordings and audio files to further analyze the incident,” his statement said.
“Football Australia was in direct contact with Erin Wilkins during and since the game and will continue to be advised by her and the Football Australia National Indigenous Advisory Group on this matter.”
Craig Foster, former Sydney United and Australia player, tweeted: “Everyone involved must be held accountable, including the club.”
Football Australia Co-CEOs Beau Busch and Kathryn Gill said in a statement: “On the pitch, the game reflected the universal values of fairness, respect and courage that should define our sport. Unfortunately, these values were shaken in the stands.”
The statement added: “Our sport needs to respond now and players are committed to playing a vital role. An effective response will not be developed by focusing on whether or not these acts were committed by a minority.”