Guns out in soccer violence

SYDNEY - Violence between supporters of two rival Sydney soccer clubs escalated to firebombs and gunshots yesterday.

The latest incidents could lead to life bans for offenders, or empty stadiums when the ethnically-based clubs meet again.

A match on Sunday between the Croatian-backed Sydney United and the Serbian-supported Bonnyrigg White Eagles was marred by clashes between 50 rival supporters, despite the presence of 100 police and security guards in a crowd of 3500.

Tensions between the clubs reached potentially deadly heights yesterday when a car was gutted and a clubhouse peppered with bullets.

Twelve shots were fired into the White Eagles' clubhouse at Bonnyrigg a few hours after a car was set alight outside Sydney United's club in Edensor Park, police said.

The White Eagles' clubhouse, less than 1km from Sydney United's ground, in the city's south-west, was empty at the time of the shooting.

Fairfield police commander Peter Marcon said the shooting appeared to be a tit-for-tat retaliation.

"But I think there are other options we need to look at," he said. "It could be someone just trying to cause trouble between the groups."

No one was injured in either attack but the escalation had police calling for calm, and NSW Police Minister Carl Scully proposing life bans for sports hooligans.

"If legislation is needed to back up those bans, so that we can enforce it and provide offences of a criminal nature if people insist on visiting grounds that they've been banned from, we'll provide that," Mr Scully said.

The board of Soccer NSW will meet tonight to investigate the violence.

Soccer NSW president Tom Doumanis said the inquiry would investigate the riot at the game and provide recommendations on how to prevent future violence.

He would not rule out banning all fans from attending matches between the two clubs.

- AAP