Justin Langer: How disgraceful acts from the sidelines are ruining sport now and in the future
In sport, the crowd is often hailed as the “12th man,” a spiritual force that can inspire athletes to transcend their limits, overcome the odds, and sometimes even achieve what seems impossible.
As a player and coach, I have seen the crowd’s effect on a game’s energy and momentum.
With India visiting Australia this summer, we often encourage our players to “earn and then enjoy the silence”. If an Indian crowd goes quiet, you know you are on top. If they are at a fever pitch, then you can be sure the impetus is in India’s favour.
The noise and energy of live sport are two of the great attractions of being at the ground or stadium, as are the tribalism and passion of supporting your beloved team.
Most of the time, the banter and competitive instincts of the opposition colours are part of the fun of the experience and can leave you feeling happy and fulfilled, despite the result.
Unfortunately, the opposite can be true when this force turns dark.
Camera IconFootage taken of an off-field football brawl that broke out in the final minutes of a round 11 juniors game between Mt Lawley-Inglewood and High Wycombe at Hamer Park Reserve in Mount Lawley about 7.30pm. Credit: Unknown/Supplied
The roar becomes a snarl and the passion of fandom morphs into something far more sinister. The annals of sports history are marred by incidents where crowd behaviour crossed the line from enthusiastic, fanatical support to outright disgrace, leaving indelible marks on the athletes, the games, and the essence of sportsmanship.
At its darkest, we remember the inconceivable and horrifying attack on Monica Seles in 1993.
At the height of her career, the world’s top-ranked female tennis player was competing in Hamburg when a deranged fan of her rival, Steffi Graf, leaped from the stands and plunged a knife into her back.
The attack not only derailed Seles’ career but sent shockwaves through the sporting world, shattering the illusion of safety that athletes had long — and rightfully — taken for granted.
It forced a re-evaluation of security measures at sporting events globally and highlighted the dangerous potential of rivalries when they spill beyond the boundaries of healthy competition.
Last weekend we saw AFL goal umpire Steven Piperno replaced halfway through the second quarter at Marvel Stadium after a bottle was thrown at his head. Whilst a man has been charged for the incident, are you — like me — and thinking: what on earth is going on?
Are you, also like me, tired of having things ruined by a few ignorant souls who wreck the experiences of the masses because of the thoughtless, senseless behaviour of these irrational individuals?
While most incidents of crowd misbehaviour see athletes or umpires as the victims, sometimes the tables turn in dramatic fashion. Few moments in sports history are as infamous as Eric Cantona’s ‘kung-fu kick’ in 1995.
The mercurial Frenchman, while playing for Manchester United, launched himself into the stands with a flying kick in response to verbal abuse from a Crystal Palace fan.
Camera IconMonica Seles grimaces as she is aided after being stabbed in the back in Hamburg, Germany on April 30, 1993 by a deranged fan of Steffi Graf. Credit: Vickie P
His actions were universally condemned, and he was handed a lengthy ban and criminal charges. Yet the incident sparked a complex conversation about the limits of what players should be expected to endure from spectators.
While violence can never be condoned, Cantona’s explosive reaction forced football to confront the toxic culture of abuse that had long been accepted as part of the game.
Recently, I have been mystified to read about incidents in junior sports that beggar belief.
Footage of a violent altercation erupting at a junior girls’ football game in Perth, where a large group of spectators engaged in a violent scuffle, seems utter craziness.
A few days later, I read Football West was forced to launch an investigation into an under-9’s soccer game because spectators became embroiled in an off-field fight that left one person with physical injuries.
The WAFC has reportedly revealed that penalties linked to poor on and off-field behaviour have led to 26 teams being placed on good behaviour bonds this year. A further 33 team officials and spectators have received suspensions due to breaches of the commission’s conduct.
Sadly, and as ridiculous as this sounds, it is not surprising.
I often hear stories of parents disenchanted by junior sports incidents or mums and dads who have volunteered to coach their child’s team only to walk away because of the stress of dealing with other parents or behaviours on and off the field.
For well over a decade, I would watch my young daughters play netball on Saturdays. As much as I loved seeing my girls play the game they loved, I would often leave dejected by the behaviour of a minority — most of who should have known better. What became apparent was that the kids were mirroring the behaviours of the adults there to support them.
I recently read a study from the University of South Australia that reinforces these observations. Parents behaving poorly is often a case of ‘monkey see, monkey do’. The research shows a link between parents’ sideline conduct and the players’ behaviours.
Put simply, when parents behaved well, their child was likelier to project positive behaviour. However, the more a parent behaved poorly — being overly critical, yelling abuse, or questioning the umpires — the more this was related to greater antisocial behaviours in their child.
As frustrated as we are about a few people corrupting the incredibly positive physical and mental benefits of sports in our community, we should also question those who blame others for acting as poor role models.
Parents, guardians and grandparents are as important in being good role models and setting an example for their kids in community sport as anyone. By setting the example for how to treat fellow players, coaches and umpires respectfully, we are likely to see kids following in their parents’ behaviours.
Community sport is about fun and enjoyment. Parents have an important role in encouraging and modelling respectable behaviours. Win, lose, or draw, being positive with your kids and encouraging them will not only keep them in the game longer but will usually help them play better as well.
A coffee this week with SportWest managers Matt Bamford and Jasmine Cappellucci provided hope for the future.
SportWest’s True Sport Sideline Behaviour Initiative seeks to increase public awareness of the impact of poor sideline behaviour in sporting environments here in WA.
It is encouraging to see organisations like SportWest providing tangible resources to assist sports in building and maintaining a culture of respect and enjoyment.
Initiatives like improved security measures, fan education programs, and stricter penalties for misconduct are often implemented across various sports to counteract extreme incidents. But the responsibility ultimately lies with each spectator.
No one, especially me, will ever discourage anyone from loving their sports and immersing themselves in the joys they can bring, but often, there is a thin line between passion and poison.
Incidents spanning different sports and decades illustrate the complex and often volatile relationship between athletes and spectators. They are stark reminders of how quickly the atmosphere at sporting events can turn from celebratory to threatening, from passionate to poisonous.
The challenge for sport’s governing bodies, venue operators, and fans is to foster an environment where passion can thrive without descending into hostility. This requires a delicate balance — maintaining the electric atmosphere that makes live sport compelling, while ensuring all involved experience safety and dignity.
The true spirit of sport lies not in blind allegiance or hostility toward opponents but in the appreciation of skill, the thrill of competition, and the unifying power of shared experience.
As spectators, we have the power to shape the narrative so that when future generations look back, they see not disgrace but dignity in how we supported the games we love. That is one of the responsibilities of being a role model to your children.
I have been privileged to grow into who I am today because of sporting communities that I know are worth protecting. Poor behaviour has no place in sports at any level, and while these incidents are in the minority, they cannot be accepted.
We all have a role to play in creating a positive environment in community sports, because the benefits are limitless.
www.truesport.com.au
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