The 2022 Australia Cup between Sydney United 58 and Macarthur FC has been condemned by those watching on over horrific behaviour.
16,461 fans packed into CommBank Stadium to watch Macarthur claim the 2-0 victory, but it was scenes from the crowd that had those watching on up in arms.
Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
As Erin Wilkins stood at the microphone doing the Welcome to Country, raucous fans in the crowd continued to chant and make noise throughout.
Unfortunately shortly after a chorus of boos could be heard reigning down on Wilkins as she made her way through the welcome to country.
Sadly things got even uglier once the game got underway as the cameras panned around the stadium showing the packed crowd.
NSW National Premier Leagues (NPL) outfit Sydney United 58 fans in the stands however came under fire from those watching on.
As fans continued to watch the broadcast, they were quick to point out what looked to be fans doing Nazi salutes.
Denmark to wear “protest” jersey | 00:35
MORE COVERAGE
PL Late Mail: Liverpool star’s shock reality after big ‘insult’; Haaland’s savage Utd snub
‘Next Liverpool manager’: Ange backed for all-time gig as Celtic boss’ stock continues to rise
Images of several fans with their right arm raised in an upward motion quickly began to circulate on social media with many disgusted by what they were seeing.
“Sydney United getting to the Final was meant to be a good thing. First NPL club ever to do it. Instead it exposed neo Nazis in their own supporter group. Hope the whole club is throughly investigated. These people shouldn’t be welcome in Football in this country,” presenter Jake Buckley tweeted.
If the salutes weren’t bad enough, the crowd chants also came under fire from those watching on with fans labelling the entire spectacle “an embarrassment”.
“This is the worst outcome for Aus Football. What should be something of celebration, historic team, semi pro, making the final. But instead, we’ve got Nazi symbolism and salutes, booing of the welcome to country. What an embarrassment to the game and this country,” football presenter Michael Turner wrote.
The despicable behaviour from the crowd marred a fantastic occasion on the pitch.
Two penalties — one each scored by Al Hassan Toure and captain Ulises Davila — proved the difference in Saturday night’s Cup final.
The win earned the Bulls their first piece of silverware in just their third season of existence after joining the A-League in 2020.
In his first senior coaching job after taking over from Ante Milicic following the completion of the Bulls’ 2021-22 campaign, former Manchester United star Yorke has had instant success and has Macarthur primed for the new A-League season, which starts on Friday.Macarthur went ahead in the 32nd minute via a Toure spot kick after Davila was fouled in the box by Anthony Tomelic.
Davila, who was awarded the Mark Viduka Medal for his man-of-the-match performance, then sealed the win in the dying stages with a penalty of his own after a foul on Bulls substitute Craig Noone.
Emotions overflowed after the match for Davila, whose wife tragically passed away in May.
– with NCA NewsWire
