Exaggeration in the Australian Media

The Australian media - television, radio and newspapers, have to some extent, embarrassed the ethnic groups in their community, with their constant baggage and ludicrous facts relating to the Ericsson Cup Grand Final. The media constantly promotes hidden racism to the general and uninformed public, which only the ethnic groups can identify. My personal knowledge of this stems from my attendance and observations at the Grand Final, and I know that certain ethnic groups feel that they have been wrongly discriminated against. The particular case in question involving racism in the media was the Grand Final between South Melbourne "Hellas" Soccer Club and Carlton Soccer Club, which was held on Saturday, the 16th of May in 1998.

The Grand Final was not a dull, defensive soccer game. Rather it was an action packed match played out as if according to a script prepared by the National Soccer Federation. South Melbourne snatched an early goal just after the eight-minute mark by John Anastasiadis, slotting the ball past his baby brother Dean Anastasiadis. After South scored that goal, they laid back the momentum and Carlton had enormous opportunities to equalise, but they couldn't convert. However, in the 78th minute, the substitute for Carlton, Marcos Stergiopoulos equalised for his team by scoring a goal, and the tension of the game increased. South Melbourne pulled up its socks, and the game became very much alive, with both teams eagerly looking for the winning goal. As the game drew closer to extra time and the golden goal rule, the South Melbourne substitute, Con Boutsianis, scored a controversial winning goal just two minutes from full time. It appeared to many that Con Boutsianis deliberately tangled his legs with those of the Carlton defender. Incredibly, he scored again two minutes into extra time, but the goal was disallowed for being offside, which to me and many others, was clearly a crystal clear goal. The final whistle was blown by referee Eugene Brazzale, and South Melbourne became the Champions in 1998.

This game was remarkable. It had action, drama, aggression, flair, uncertainty, heroes and villains, and by the end, it was highly controversial. The 16,000 plus crowd was amazing, with chanting, screaming, yelling, fireworks and a lot of flares. The atmosphere was just spectacular, with the Greek community uniting, as did the non-Greek South Melbourne supporters together to enjoy an historical and memorable soccer match. The only element that marred the great celebrations was the media's covering of this historical event.

Instead of broadcasting this most astounding Grand Final in years, the media unfairly criticised the Greek community for the crowd's behaviour. The media exaggerated that there was violence and 'alleged' riots, blaming the South Melbourne fans for behaving in an inadequate and dangerous manner. Having been there, right amongst the so-called troublemakers or 'hooligans,' I witnessed very little violence. The only bad thing was the few chairs that were broken and the very few that were thrown at some police officers. The flares and the running onto the field were inspired by the patriotism and the love that the supporters have for their club.

The media falsely painted the spectators running onto the field at the end of the match as riots, although they in no way interfered violently with the players, but merely congratulated them. The media also talked about the South Melbourne club having to pay a hefty fine of $100,000 and/or expulsion from the National Soccer League. This was clearly fake as South Melbourne didn't receive a fine, nor did they face expulsion because it will result in major money problems for the Soccer Federation. Nevertheless, the media neglected in following up this issue, which if they had done so, would have somewhat taken the South Melbourne Soccer Club out of an unfavourable light.

The media loves it when we go wild, and they thrive on our craziness because we know how to party, with flares and the lot, without riots, minimal violence, fines or injuries. The television networks love showing the bright side of this game, when there are big red flares covering the television screen. The media didn't once talk about the poor security before and after the match, with 50 flares brought in, not smuggled into Olympic Park, and a big $300 blow up milk carton getting stolen, possibly dragged out of the gates. I read in the Herald Sun that five people wrote in and said, "thanks for nothing South Melbourne, your supporters have once again ashamed this country." I also read from a football supporter in the Herald Sun, "when soccer supporters world wide stop acting in an uncivilised fashion, we will stop knocking your sport." I say that many Aussie rules football supporters as mentioned above, are unfamiliar with the soccer culture and therefore when criticising the soccer supporters, they should do so from an informed view point.

If the South Melbourne supporters behaved so atrociously, why did David Hill (Soccer Australia Chairman) congratulate George Vasilopoulos (South Melbourne President) for its well-behaved crowd. George Vasilopoulos advertised in the Greek radio and newspapers before the finals series that he did not want any trouble, and there was no trouble whatsoever in the two major-semi finals played in Melbourne. When it came to the last big match, we went crazy in a great fashion to cap off the dream season, and a seven-year wait for the cup.

The media blew the coverage of the National Soccer Grand Final out of proportion, but all the South Melbourne soccer supporters and the general soccer community will remember this great win, even with the unfortunate aftermath that went on. Soccer is the most passionate sport in the world, and a professor once said that soccer isn't advertised in the major television channels, because it would pose a threat to football and rugby league, and the Australians are scared that it will take over the sporting stage in Australia. I am very happy with the South Melbourne supporters and I truly enjoyed the best game of my life. It even beat the Australia versus Iran World Cup qualifier at the MCG in front of a 90,000 plus crowed. The media should get its facts right and see things in their true perspective's before it wrongly and unfairly attacks another ethnic group again.

Don't get the wrong idea that I am racist, I am just ashamed at what the media did to the Greek Australian community, like you will be ashamed at what the greeks did on the grand final. We hooligans are Sick Cunts re.