Football
AAP 7y

Western Sydney fans' lewd banner upsets Graham Arnold's family

The lewd fan banner depicting Graham Arnold in a sex act has made the Sydney FC coach's daughters reluctant to attend any more A-League Sydney derbies.

Four days after members of the Western Sydney Wanderers' active fan base unfurled the offensive tifo during Saturday's 1-0 loss, Arnold revealed he had not received even a phone call from the Wanderers, who are facing significant punishment from Football Federation Australia (FFA) over the incident.

"I would probably have liked one by now," Arnold said.

"I haven't heard from them for four days so I don't want one now."

While he insisted the tifo, widely perceived as anti-gay, did not bother him personally, it had upset his family.

Arnold's wife, daughters and grandson were at the game and saw the Red and Black Bloc's banner along with many others among the 45,000 spectators at ANZ Stadium.

"Does it bother me? Not at all," Arnold said.

"I've got a thick skin and I've been in this game for 30-odd years.

"I've been called a lot worse and been through tougher times.

"But I think it's completely inappropriate for my children, my family.

"My family were upset, to the fact where my girls have come to every game of football that I've coached and played since I can remember, and they don't want to come anymore.

"It's a strong statement from girls and my wife, my wife is extremely upset.

"On top of that, all those young kids that turned up to the game with their parents to watch the game.

"I don't think it has any place in Australian sport."

Despite FFA's show-cause notice foreshadowing significant punishment to their club, the RBB defended their use of the banner on social media and slammed the governing body as "dictatorial."

The group refused to back down or apologise, instead posting pictures of potential merchandise depicting the image.

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