6 Dec 2015

Phoenix fans support boycott

1:12 pm on 6 December 2015

Wellington Phoenix fans have voiced their strong support for A-League boycotts by other supporter groups but say they cannot join in due to the football club's ongoing licence saga.

Sydney FC's The Cove and Western Sydney's Red and Black Bloc are set to stay away from A-League matches this weekend, and more are expected to follow after Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop's remarks on Tuesday worsened tensions between the governing body and active soccer supporters.

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Phoenix flags will fly this weekend. Photo: Photosport

Yellow Fever spokesman David Cross said the boycott had the "full backing" of Phoenix supporters, accusing FFA of acting above the law and playing it "fast and loose" with the truth over appeals processes for banned fans.

But Cross said the Yellow Fever was unable to follow suit due to Wellington's uncertain tenure in the A-League, with their licence agreement set to expire at the end of the current season.

"With such a strong push from the FFA against our club's licence extension we feel continuing our fight against that decision is a priority for the Wellington Phoenix fans at this time," Cross said.

"Fighting to ensure the treatment of the league's fans is fair and reasonable and is important to us all but will not mean much if we no longer have a club to support."

Phoenix ownership group Welnix has not indicated whether it will take up a four-year licence extension offered by FFA or pull its funding, which would lead to the club being wound up.

Wellington beat competition leaders the Melbourne Victory 2-0 on Saturday at QBE Stadium in Auckland.

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