TV star Lucy Zelic says Aussie soccer fans only want to hear from ‘rich, ethnic’ former players

Former SBS sports commentator Lucy Zelic has criticized Australian football fans for being narrow-minded and refusing to listen to anyone other than “wealthy, ethnic” former stars of the game when she stood up for Peter FitzSimons.

The Fairfax columnist has come under fire from football diehards after criticizing the Socceroos for going into their shells during their 4-1 loss to France to open their World Cup campaign in Qatar.

He was called to account by football commentator Simon Hill and many fans, who rejected his view on the grounds that he is not a well-known football expert.

Zelic responded by taking on the fans – and the way football is run in Australia – in an angry series of tweets urging supporters to welcome the newcomers to the sport.

“I still struggle to understand why people are so offended by Peter’s OBSERVATION and sincere questions about the performance of the NATIONAL team?” she wrote.

Zelic (pictured during her time as a commentator for SBS) slammed Aussie football fans for creating a ‘cocoon of arrogance, exclusivity and elitism around our sport’

The TV star has also criticized the state of the sport in Australia, blaming some of its problems on “self-obsessed tyrants” who used to run the governing body.

“I used to be on the @LadiesWhoLeague (rugby league) podcast… Not once was I piled on or told to stay in my job because I had no idea what I was talking about.”

Zelic went on to berate those who run the game in Australia, saying the governing body was “controlled by self-obsessed tyrants” for years and blamed them for “throwing fans under the bus”.

“We now rely on A-League clubs to develop our players… and no one is held accountable for failure… we were lucky enough to qualify for this World Cup and the last. tell me, what makes all this us an attractive proposition and not an easy target?

“We have created a virtual cocoon of arrogance, exclusivity and elitism around our sport, where anyone who has an opinion about the game and its content is “prejudiced”, “racist” or “no clue” can join… must be rich are, are ethnic, have played professionally or have grown up worshiping the game.”

Peter FitzSimons has been harshly criticized by many football fans after he criticized the Socceroos’ tactics in their loss to France – prompting Zelic to defend him

Commentator Simon Hill – known as the voice of Australian football – criticized FitzSimons for his ‘depressing’ take on the national side’s heavy loss to France

Zelic went on to criticize Aussie fans for refusing to attend A-League games, but complained when “mainstream coverage is lacking, when the government directs money elsewhere and when outsiders fire potshots at us.”

“If you want to know what’s wrong with Australian rules football, you don’t have to look far because the answer is: Australian rules football.”

On Friday, Hill – known as the voice of football in Australia through his commentary work – got into a war of words with FitzSimons over his take on the tough loss to France, despite his views being echoed by Socceroos legends such as Harry Kewell, Mark Bosnich and John Aloisi.

Hill labeled the veteran sports journalist’s outlook “depressing”, particularly his reference to the “Australian way” where sports teams are always asking questions of their opponents, whatever the occasion.

FitzSimons’ reference to the late rugby league great Tommy Raudonikis and his infamous “cattledog” battle cry also irked Hill, who covers the World Cup in the Middle East.

“Try…I don’t know about the game…Tommy Raudonikis…” Sigh,” Hill posted on Twitter.

“Why do we STILL get these kinds of ‘analysis’ pieces on the biggest sporting event in the world?”