“He got messages on social media saying,‘Yep,we heard the comments. It was disgusting,’” Kosmina said.
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“I think there is an overwhelming sentiment of support from the majority of fans. It’s a[small] element that needs to be weaned out. Twenty or 30 years ago,this is the sort of language that was more common. Now it’s not acceptable.
“I don’t want my young boys at a game where abused is being yelled from the stands and I don’t think any families do,so it’s good that he has had the support from Victory supporters in that instance saying,‘that wasn’t on,we’re with you Josh.’”
The APL and the operators of AAMI Park are now combing through CCTV footage to identify those responsible.
Football Australia,meanwhile,has written a ‘please explain’ letter to Melbourne Victory to seek further information on the incident and the club’s response. The APL will issue offenders with a ban from A-Leagues matches,an FA spokesperson said the sport’s governing body would consider extending a national ban if “particular conduct” is found to have occurred.
“There’s more cameras at our games than there ever have been before and the security infrastructure at AAMI Park is probably the best in the country,” Kosmina said.
“We have to let it run its course. But what’s as important as it is to identify the perpetrators is the messaging that that goes beyond this thing. If we don’t identify who they are,then it’s not the end of it. We’re not just going to tools down once the investigation is done - it’s something that needs to carry on this season,but then also beyond Josh when one day he departs Adelaide United.
“It’s something we’ll work with stadiums,both home and away now - we’ll need to address[it] with clubs interstate,to keep an eye out on this and how we monitor it.
“I think the active supporter groups of clubs will play a key role in this as well. You’ve seen some of the messaging out of the Red Army[Adelaide United’s home end] this season in support of Josh has been really positive. We’d hope that other active groups take on that moving forward.”
Fringe Socceroo reportedly set to join Postecoglou at Celtic
Ange Postecoglou is reportedly closing in on his first Australian signing since taking on the job as Celtic manager,with the Scottish Premiership club poised to land fringe Socceroo Riley McGree.
Capped seven times for Australia,McGree also represented his nation at the Tokyo Olympics and was given his first senior call-up by Postecoglou almost five years ago.
The 23-year-old midfielder has been playing for English Championship outfit Birmingham City since October 2020 on loan from Charlotte FC,a new Major League Soccer team which will begin its inaugural season next month.
McGree impressed towards the back end of his loan stint but while Birmingham were unable to sign him on a permanent deal,there are other clubs keen to ensure he stays in the United Kingdom.
Middlesbrough were said to be one of the main teams in contention,but it now appears that Celtic are the odds-on favourites to land McGree for a transfer fee of around $4 million.
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A-League club Adelaide United are expected to receive a percentage of that transfer fee as agreed when they sold McGree to Charlotte in 2020. He played 30 times for Birmingham,scoring three goals and assisting twice before the expiry of his loan contract last month.
“I thought he looked exciting from the moment he broke into the Adelaide team,” Postecoglou said in March 2017 when he called up McGree for the Socceroos. “I really like the way he has adjusted to playing in an unfamiliar position against some really good opponents.”
An attack-minded midfielder capable of playing as a No.10,8 or 6,McGree would join Postecoglou and Tom Rogic as part of a growing Aussie continent at Celtic.
This move would continue McGree’s second foray into European football,following an ill-fated move to Belgian outfit Club Brugge in 2017.
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