Coopers Stadium’s ban Melbourne Victory fans an ‘error’ and lifted

The controversial ban on Melbourne Victory fans from Coopers Stadium has been lifted, with venue management admitting the decision was an “error”.

Melbourne Victory fans will be allowed into Coopers Stadium next year after a short-lived ban on the club’s spectators was officially lifted with the chairman of the venue operator admitting the inflammatory statement issued Thursday slamming the club’s supporters had been an “error’’.

Adelaide Venue Management chairman Andrew Daniels said the original statement, put out on the Coopers Stadium website, which labelled both Adelaide and Melbourne fans as “violent and riotous’’ had been put up “in error’’.

“When it was realised that it had gone up it was as quickly as possible it was withdrawn,’’ Mr Daniels said. “Things have happened that shouldn’t have happened and certainly, on behalf of the organisation, put my hand up for that and apologise for it.’’

Mr Daniels said an internal review was now underway to uncover how the statement had been published. He said AVN chief executive, Anthony Kirchner, whose name was attached to the statement had been on leave. He declined to say whether Mr Kirchner’s position was now under threat.

Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium. A Victory fan is escorted from the field. Picture: File

Mr Daniels said the state government had been unaware that the original statement was to be published and also confirmed he had apologised to the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the A-League Men’s competition, Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory

An APL spokesperson said they were “pleased to see this issue resolved and look forward to continuing to work with Adelaide Venue Management and our clubs as part of our planning for next season’’.

Melbourne Victory declined to comment and Adelaide United referred to the APL statement as standing for the club.

The short-lived ban caught the APL as well as Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory by surprise, as they had not been told it would happen.

Earlier, Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis had labelled as “stupid” a decision to ban Melbourne Victory fans from Coopers Stadium.

“I thought it was a stupid decision,’’ Mr Koutsantonis said on Friday.

“Every code whether its Australian rules football, rugby league or real football, you are going to get some people who behave badly,’’ he said.

“You don’t ban entire cohorts of fans and say everyone who barracks for that team is all lumped in.