Just to touch on the 'playing with matches' analogy, you would hope that Martin would be a better man but it would be quite understandable that if there was ever a line call involving the Nix and NZF, that Martin might not support the Nix. That is the type of risk you run with such banner displays - its a simple matter of risk management. The FFA situation was a little different given that they had essentially cut us loose and were being openly hostile to us. No matter what you think about NZF incompetence, it would be hard to describe them as antagonistic towards the club and a little bit of thought before blindly displaying banners of this nature. Even though some of you don't think it shows Yellow Fever in a bad light, all it takes is one person in a position of power to think it does and there is potential for a bad outcome for the club. The fact that 2 of the more intelligent members of this board think it could easily be construed as being officially sanctioned by YF, shows that there are likely to be others that think the same.
Ridiculous scaremongering. Are you seriously suggesting that NZF might "take revenge" on YF or the Nix because a banner held up at a Phoenix game hit too close to the mark?
That would be a national scandal resulting in loads of press.
It would be unprecendented for a football national body to treat its fans in such a manner (feel free to post evidence of it happening; I'm curious ...)
This is a democracy, not a dictatorship.
People can criticise whoever they like without fear.
Martin is supposed to represent us, the fans and players of football.
A national football game is the best place to make our displeasure known.