Popular Sydney FC were watched by their smallest crowd of Australia's A-League season as a fan boycott began to bite on Friday. Just 9,155 fans watched Sydney FC beat Newcastle Jets 1-0 but Sydney's Allianz Stadium was largely deserted as "The Cove" group of supporters stayed away in droves. Football Federation Australia (FFA) is facing a fan revolt amid fury over the publication of a confidential list of supporters banned from stadiums around the country.
Anger over a perceived privacy breach flared when Sydney's Sunday Telegraph last week published the names and photos of 198 banned A-League fans, labelling some as "louts" while lashing out at spectator conduct.