Western Sydney Wanderers chief executive John Tsatsimas has appealed to the A-League club’s fans to show their passion within the law.

The club accepted a $50,000 fine from Football Federation Australia (FFA) and a suspended point deduction for bringing the game into disrepute after fans lit flares against the Melbourne Victory.

Tsatsimas told the media he was disappointed for the players and staff at the club, but even moreso for “the great and fantastic membership base of 18,000 who have [been] nothing but great for this club”.

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Flares and detonators disrupted the A-League game between the Melbourne Victory and the Wanderers. Photo: Getty

“I appeal to those who’ve conducted themselves questionably to comply and behave … as law-abiding citizens,” he said.

“Show your passion as any other true football fan would. Not as a hooligan.”

“We’re disappointed and we don’t want it happening again,” he added.

Western Sydney’s active fan group, the Red and Black Bloc (RBB), has been the focal point of criticism as one of the loudest groups in the league.

A club statement reiterated the Wanderers’ stance that their club is not the only one with fan issues but Tsatsimas said he applauded most of the vocal support group.

“There’s a great deal in the RBB that’s fantastic. It’s added a great deal and a flavour to our club that’s been unbelievable,” he said.

“We just hope that [misbehaving] minority’s weeded out and it doesn’t tarnish the RBB or the rest of the supporter group.”

Those fans who are simply at the game to watch the football also have a role to play, but Tsatsimas was adamant anyone who sees anything should not endanger themselves, but find security personnel.

Tsasimas argues cultural change is required to stop the anti-social behaviour. Photo: Twitter

“Fellow patrons aren’t police,” he said.

“It’s a cultural thing. We need to get into these people’s minds that sort of behaviour is not acceptable.”

He added it would be foolish not to put more stringent measures in place for this February 20’s derby against Sydney FC but said he hoped there was a shift in fans’ mind sets.

“It’s not about going against each other. It’s a collective celebration of football,” he said.

Tsatsimas did say he was baffled by the timing of the punishment with a February 19 deadline for the FFA to implement new rules surrounding how it deals with misbehaving fans looming.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognise the timing of this is absolutely mind-boggling,” he said.

“I can’t fathom it and many can’t in the game.”