Western United coach John Aloisi has thrown his support behind Western Sydney Wanderers fans and wants to see them back in the stands even if it makes his team's life more difficult.
The Red and Black Bloc (RBB), the Wanderers’ active supporter group, has claimed they won't attend Friday's home game after six fans were handed banning orders at Saturday’s A-League Men derby loss to Sydney FC.
The RBB posted video of a series of confrontations, including some showing NSW Police pinning supporters to the ground and placing them in headlocks.
The RBB has been backed by the club and CEO Scott Hudson, who has spoken to Venues NSW to get the banning notices overturned before Friday’s meeting at CommBank Stadium.
"If there's an issue we need to get it right because we need our fans at the stadiums," Socceroos great Aloisi said.
"We don't need our main core fans boycotting the game.
"Look, I don't know what the Wanderers fans were doing or did or didn't do. But I'm glad that the club's backing them because we want as many supporters as possible to come to the games.
"Even if we're playing away, we don't mind - we would rather play in front of bigger crowds.
"So we don't want to push them away. We want to bring them all back in. So hopefully they sort it out very soon."
Wanderers and Roar fans, who had issues with Queensland Police at their game against Melbourne Victory, have both been offered the support of their respective clubs - a contrast from some previous tensions.
"I think that was the problem in the past and that's why a lot of the fans boycotted because the clubs didn't stand by them," Aloisi said.
"But now the clubs are standing by them and you hope that will bring them back or at least know that the club is there for them and that they want to see them support their team."
Aloisi stressed the importance of returning the league to its glory days of pumping atmospheres.
"We've lost that a bit," he said.
"We know that there's passion, it's part of our game, and we want to encourage it."
Cellar-dwellars United expect a fired-up Wanderers after a 4-1 derby thrashing.
They have also lost Olyroos striker Noah Botic for the rest of the season with a navicular fracture.
The injury also rules Botic, who had scored six goals in four games, out of the U23 Asian Cup which doubles as qualification for the Olympics and potentially even the Paris Games.
"It's unfortunate for Noah," Aloisi said.
"Not sure how that's gonna look in terms of if they qualify for the Olympics.
"We had a scan earlier this week. He felt it in the game (against Perth), which is part of football, we know, but it's not good news for Noah.
"It's devastating news."
