The Chaser, the Bulldogs, and offensive conduct
August 30th 2006 07:31
The facts (I think)
* "The Bulldogs are known to have some of the most devoted fans in Australian Rugby League. There are a small group of supporters which
are known as the 'Bulldogs Army'. Their fans behavior has also been highlighted in recent years with fans causing trouble at Bulldogs matches. The Bulldogs club is trying to stop the fan violence by re-naming and moving the Bulldog army into a season ticket only bay 'The Kennel' as well as a campaign to encourage Bulldogs fans to dob in people causing trouble." -- Wikipedia
* Friday 17 March 2006: "Bulldogs match against West Tigers… During the game at Telstra Stadium, a fight broke out in the grandstand midway through the second half of the match… The violence also continued outside the venue after the match, with reports that a group of Bulldogs supporters attacked Wests Tigers fans." -- SMH
* Friday 24 March 2006: "Four men have since been charged with affray, after police identified them through television footage of the incident." "[A] new team will be added to the NRL. A team of 150 police officers, including those from the riot squad, will be deployed at every Bulldogs match until the end of the football season." -- ABC
* Friday 14 July 2006: "Chas Licciardello was filming a prank at last night's NRL clash in Sydney between the Bulldogs and St George-Illawarra… Licciardello admits to being dressed in a Bulldogs' jersey and beanie outside the ground prior to the match at OKI Jubilee Stadium in Sydney's south. 'I was filming for our show, hawking off a Bulldogs supporters kit, it was a silly thing, it had fake knuckle dusters, balaclavas, that sort of stuff,' Licciardello told Southern Cross Broadcasting. 'Most of the people took it pretty light heartedly but a couple of the supporters got a bit angry and then the police stepped in.' Licciardello said the Bulldogs supporters started taking his props and 'were getting a little bit rough'. He said police were trying to diffuse the situation and move people on. 'I think they thought we might incite things, which we wouldn't have, we were just about to go anyway,' Licciardello said." Chas is subsequently charged with "offensive conduct". -- SMH
* Tuesday 29 August 2006: Chas appears in Kogarah Local Court, and pleads not guilty. Magistrate Bernard Kennedy adjourns the matter to Sutherland Local Court on 12 October. "'All I want to say is, it is a case of four quarters and full credit to the prosecution, I thought they did a good job, they gave as good as they got,' [Chas] told reporters. 'I'm really proud of our boys, they gave 110 per cent. I play tough, hard and fair and I think the results take care of themselves.' Police allege Licciardello, 29, of Croydon Park, took balaclavas, a fake knife, knuckle dusters and flares outside a sports ground where the Bulldogs played St George Illawarra on July 14. He was filmed outside the Oki Stadium at Kogarah dressed as a Bulldogs supporter and attempting to sell 'supporter kits' to fans." -- Ninemsn
The images
Pic of an angry fan.
Pic of the supporter kit.
The youtube videos
News video
The Chaser video
Footage of the event.
The quotes
Acting Deputy Commissioner Denis Clifford: "This was clearly an act of mindless stupidity that had the potential to stir up the large crowd and cause serious problems." "This fellow will be appearing in Sutherland Court at a later date charged with offensive conduct." "We'll see how funny he thinks all this is then." "This sort of stuff does nothing but undermine the good work that police, the fans, club officials and the NRL have been doing in the past months and years to try to and provide a safe environment for people to go along and watch rugby league." -- SMH
Acting Police NSW Deputy Commissioner Denis Clifford: "If this is an attempt at humour it's not only in poor taste but it's dangerous." "There could have been some retaliation from fans who were offended." -- SMH
NRL chief executive David Gallop: "The Bulldogs and their fans have worked hard on many things and they should be given credit rather than ridiculed." -- SMH
NSW Premier Morris Iemma: "A lot of us enjoy a laugh from The Chaser, however what occurred last night was grossly irresponsible behaviour." "Given what's happened in the past and given the efforts of the club and that the police have made to crack down on anti-social behaviour and hooliganism, to be out there among them offering the fake knuckle duster and knives I think is well beyond just having a joke." -- SMH
Postscript
On Tuesday 23 January 2007, Chas was found not guilty of offensive conduct by Magistrate Joanne Keogh at Sutherland Local Court.
-- SMH
-- The Age
"I would just like to say how deeply disappointed we are with the court's decision. We will not rest until this injustice has been corrected. We will be appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, to the High Court, to the UN, to the Jedi Council, and the Snickometer... I'm sorry. I didn't actually prepare any material for the off-chance that we won. I've got to head on my way to the Big Day Out now."
"Thankfully everything panned out very well. I was relieved that I got off the charge because if I hadn ’t, my mum would have absolutely given it to me."
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia articles Canterbury Bulldogs and Morris Iemma.
The picture of Chas came from this webpage. It is used for the purpose of commentary on the incident.
* "The Bulldogs are known to have some of the most devoted fans in Australian Rugby League. There are a small group of supporters which
* Friday 17 March 2006: "Bulldogs match against West Tigers… During the game at Telstra Stadium, a fight broke out in the grandstand midway through the second half of the match… The violence also continued outside the venue after the match, with reports that a group of Bulldogs supporters attacked Wests Tigers fans." -- SMH
* Friday 24 March 2006: "Four men have since been charged with affray, after police identified them through television footage of the incident." "[A] new team will be added to the NRL. A team of 150 police officers, including those from the riot squad, will be deployed at every Bulldogs match until the end of the football season." -- ABC
Chas Licciardello - Bulldogs supporter
* Friday 14 July 2006: "Chas Licciardello was filming a prank at last night's NRL clash in Sydney between the Bulldogs and St George-Illawarra… Licciardello admits to being dressed in a Bulldogs' jersey and beanie outside the ground prior to the match at OKI Jubilee Stadium in Sydney's south. 'I was filming for our show, hawking off a Bulldogs supporters kit, it was a silly thing, it had fake knuckle dusters, balaclavas, that sort of stuff,' Licciardello told Southern Cross Broadcasting. 'Most of the people took it pretty light heartedly but a couple of the supporters got a bit angry and then the police stepped in.' Licciardello said the Bulldogs supporters started taking his props and 'were getting a little bit rough'. He said police were trying to diffuse the situation and move people on. 'I think they thought we might incite things, which we wouldn't have, we were just about to go anyway,' Licciardello said." Chas is subsequently charged with "offensive conduct". -- SMH
* Tuesday 29 August 2006: Chas appears in Kogarah Local Court, and pleads not guilty. Magistrate Bernard Kennedy adjourns the matter to Sutherland Local Court on 12 October. "'All I want to say is, it is a case of four quarters and full credit to the prosecution, I thought they did a good job, they gave as good as they got,' [Chas] told reporters. 'I'm really proud of our boys, they gave 110 per cent. I play tough, hard and fair and I think the results take care of themselves.' Police allege Licciardello, 29, of Croydon Park, took balaclavas, a fake knife, knuckle dusters and flares outside a sports ground where the Bulldogs played St George Illawarra on July 14. He was filmed outside the Oki Stadium at Kogarah dressed as a Bulldogs supporter and attempting to sell 'supporter kits' to fans." -- Ninemsn
The images
Pic of an angry fan.
Pic of the supporter kit.
The youtube videos
News video
The Chaser video
Footage of the event.
The quotes
Acting Deputy Commissioner Denis Clifford: "This was clearly an act of mindless stupidity that had the potential to stir up the large crowd and cause serious problems." "This fellow will be appearing in Sutherland Court at a later date charged with offensive conduct." "We'll see how funny he thinks all this is then." "This sort of stuff does nothing but undermine the good work that police, the fans, club officials and the NRL have been doing in the past months and years to try to and provide a safe environment for people to go along and watch rugby league." -- SMH
Acting Police NSW Deputy Commissioner Denis Clifford: "If this is an attempt at humour it's not only in poor taste but it's dangerous." "There could have been some retaliation from fans who were offended." -- SMH
NRL chief executive David Gallop: "The Bulldogs and their fans have worked hard on many things and they should be given credit rather than ridiculed." -- SMH
Postscript
On Tuesday 23 January 2007, Chas was found not guilty of offensive conduct by Magistrate Joanne Keogh at Sutherland Local Court.
-- SMH
-- The Age
"I would just like to say how deeply disappointed we are with the court's decision. We will not rest until this injustice has been corrected. We will be appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, to the High Court, to the UN, to the Jedi Council, and the Snickometer... I'm sorry. I didn't actually prepare any material for the off-chance that we won. I've got to head on my way to the Big Day Out now."
"Thankfully everything panned out very well. I was relieved that I got off the charge because if I hadn ’t, my mum would have absolutely given it to me."
***
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia articles Canterbury Bulldogs and Morris Iemma.
The picture of Chas came from this webpage. It is used for the purpose of commentary on the incident.
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Comment by John Bentley
I liked:
* Mention of the australian news media priority of the chaser story over the events in Lebannon.
* Asking Iemma: "How do you feel about an increase in comedy crime under your watch?" (Paraphrase from "The Chaser Video" above)
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Your taste in video is clearly inappropriate, and if you found that funny you've got another think coming.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog