Adelaide Croatia Vukovi and Ghan Kilburn City allegedly involved in on-field brawl during pre-season match

A soccer club is set to pursue criminal charges over an all-in brawl, claiming one of its players was “viciously assaulted” and suffered a “sickening head injury”.

The South Australian Amateur Soccer League has suspended two clubs from its pre-season competition as it investigates an alleged on-field brawl. Picture: File

An alleged on-field brawl at a local soccer pre-season game left a player with a “sickening head injury”, according to one of the clubs involved.

A SAPOL spokeswoman confirmed police were called to the match between Adelaide Croatia Vukovi and Ghan Kilburn City at Parafield Gardens Soccer Club on February 21, after reports of a large fight.

The spokeswoman said an on-field incident led to a large melee between players and spectators and two people sustained injuries.

The match, which was part of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League’s Templin Cup competition, was then called off.

The SAASL has launched an investigation into the incident and both teams have been suspended, pending the results the investigation.

In a statement on its Facebook page, Adelaide Croatia said one of the club’s players was “viciously assaulted” by an opponent and sustained a “sickening head injury”, which resulted in him being hospitalised but was now recovering at home.

CLUB STATEMENT During yesterday’s SAASL Templin Cup game, an Adelaide Croatia player was viciously assaulted during...

Posted by Adelaide Croatia SC - Vukovi on Sunday, February 21, 2021

“As the club will be pursuing criminal charges and due to SAPOL’s and potential legal involvement, we will not be commenting further on the details of the incident so as to not jeopardise any future proceedings against the alleged attacker,” the statement continued.

“There is absolutely no place in our game for what transpired … and trust in the process that the right outcome will be achieved.”

Ghan Kilburn City president Rahim Zaidi declined to comment until the league’s investigation was complete.

The Messenger understands the fight broke out after Ghan scored a goal and players from both sides wrestled for the ball to bring it back into play.

The SAASL has been contacted for comment but in a statement on its website said: “The serious incidents that led to the abandoned pre-season Templin Cup match on Sunday February 21, between Adelaide Croatia Vukovi and Ghan Kilburn City will be investigated under the SAASL rules and regulations”.

“The league takes these incidents seriously and will be working with the SAASRA, match officials. clubs involved and SAPOL during this process”, the statement continued.

It is understood a meeting will occur Wednesday night to determine an outcome to the league’s investigation.

The incident comes about four months after Ghan Kilburn claimed the Sunday division one President’s Cup final.