MEAN WHILE IN …
WEIRD WORLD OF FOOTBALL
…Australia, footballers don’t have smoke blown up their backsides – they have it blown in their face instead
1 “FIERY PLANT SMOKE, SIR?”
Macarthur FC knew how to make an impact on their A-League debut: by setting a shrub on fire, then wafting it in their opponents’ faces.
Australia’s top flight has expanded to 12 clubs for 2020-21 with the introduction of a third Sydney side, from the Macarthur district. Until this year, the team previously known as Macarthur South West United were possibly most famous for being the opponents when Usain Bolt scored twice during an ultimately unsuccessful trial with Central Coast Mariners.
The two teams met again for Macarthur’s inaugural home match in the A-League – no Bolt this time, but the new boys did field ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire, a man of almost identical fame.
The Bulls welcomed a cowbell-waving crowd of around 4,500 – and also an Aboriginal elder, who carried a bush onto the field before kick-off, then blew the smoke into players’ faces.