Sydney United 58 fans condemned for Nazi salutes and booing of Welcome to Country

Football Australia has strongly condemned a “small number” of Sydney United 58 fans who appeared to perform Nazi salutes and booed the Welcome to Country during last night’s Australia Cup final.

More than 16,000 fans attended the match at CommBank Stadium in Western Sydney, with A-league team Macarthur FC beating Sydney United 58 2-0.

Sydney United 58, a semi-professional team that plays in the NSW NPL, was the first non A-League team to reach an Australia Cup final.

Fans continued to chant and make noise as Erin Wilkins stepped up to deliver the Welcome to Country, before some started to boo.

As television cameras panned across the crowd, some Sydney United 58 fans appeared to perform Nazi salutes, raising their right arms in an upward movement.

Football Australia has condemned the actions of some fans, which it described as “isolated”, and said eight people were ejected from the stadium.

In a statement the organisation said: “Football Australia acknowledges and strongly condemns the actions of a small minority of individuals who engaged in behaviour that is not consistent with Football Australia’s values and wider community expectations.

“Football Australia will continue to gather information from the venue, clubs, and authorities on this matter, as anti-social behaviour has no place in our game.”

Football Australia said it was working closely with NSW Police to determine strong and swift action on any identified anti-social behaviour.

A section of fans from United, formerly known as Sydney Croatia, also sang Za Dom Spremni — a chant used by the far-right Ustase movement in Croatia in the 1930s and 1940s.

Craig Foster, a human rights activist and former Socceroos international who started his football career at Sydney United 58, condemned the behaviour of some of the club’s fans.

“My apologies to Indigenous Australia,” Foster tweeted.

“I condemn the horrific display of racist hate & stand with our Jewish & other affected communities.

“All involved need to be held accountable including the club.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark condemned the display of Nazi symbols and salutes “in the strongest possible terms”.

“These vile symbols and salutes have no place in modern Australian society,” he said.

“Reprehensible conduct such as this causes immense distress to the victims of Nazi crimes and their descendants, whilst undermining our cohesive multicultural society.

“The fact that the Welcome to Country and national anthem was also booed last night underlines the contempt these people have for Australia and our diggers.”

Mr Bark welcomes the police investigation into the incident but is calling on Football Australia to “ban these fans for life”.

Macarthur FC said they won’t be commenting as “the incidents relate to another football club”.

Sydney United 58 has been contacted for comment.