What is unusual about this is that it concerns 2 women’s soccer teams in Adelaide.
Adelaide University women’s football club hired a security guard to crack down on unruly behaviour on and off field, when their team faced Elizabeth Downs today. The rivalry between the two clubs has become so fierce that Adelaide University division one players fear for their safety. Some have chosen not to play because of past experiences. The club also notified the university’s security to be on standby for the game.
Adelaide University coach Kevin Holohan said:
"Players are being punched and physically and verbally intimidated,"
"The spectators are just as abusive – making physical taunts towards other spectators and players."
He also claimed that during a game he was chased by a relative of one of the Elizabeth Downs players, who threatened to physically assault him.
Elizabeth Downs club chairman Bill Duncan said he did not know of any specific issue with Adelaide University and was surprised to hear the club had called on security to monitor the game. He said Elizabeth Downs players behaved well and held "no animosity" towards Adelaide University.
So what does this say about the two teams? Are the University players overly sensitive and unable to deal with what the Elizabeth bogans throw at them? Are the Elizabeth people saying nothing is wrong because violence and abuse is par for the course where they come from?
Meanwhile in mainstream sport here in Australia, professional footballers are getting on with the business, getting pissed and shitting in hotel corridors.
