Penalties from an on-field brawl between Adelaide Croatia Vukovi and Ghan Kilburn City have not been released publicly

A player was left with “sickening injuries” after an on-field brawl during a local soccer game – but the investigation into the incident has not been released to the public.

The South Australian Amateur Soccer League is refusing to release results of an investigation into an on-field brawl during a pre-season game.

A local soccer league is refusing to publicly reveal the results of an investigation into an on-field brawl during a pre-season game, which left a player with a “sickening head injury”, according to one of the clubs involved.

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 South Australian Amateur Soccer League launched an investigation into the incident but was now refusing to release the results or say if any penalties had been handed down.

In a statement on its website, the League said the two clubs had been “advised respectively of the outcomes and sanctions”.

South Australian Amateur Soccer League statement on the on-field brawl between Adelaide Croatia Vukovi and Ghan Kilburn City. Picture: Supplied, SAASL website

The statement said the “SAASL Management Committee has considered and endorsed the decisions of the Investigations Committee in relation to the incidents”.

The statement then said clubs should “refrain from making any comments, including in the media, that may prejudice further investigations or damage the reputation of any individual participants, clubs and the SAASL or bring the game into disrepute”.

The SAASL was contacted but declined to make any further comment.

It is, however, understood Adelaide Croatia was fined $450 and deducted three points ahead of the 2021 season.

It is also understood the player who according to the club’s initial statement was “viciously assaulted” by an opponent and sustained a “sickening head injury” has been ordered to front a disciplinary committee to give a victim impact statement.

The League’s silence has led to Adelaide Croatia’s co-president Rye Smith sensationally quitting his post.

The on-field brawl between Ghan Kilburn City and Adelaide Croatia Vukovi has led to former Croatia president Rye Smith to quit.

Smith said his former club had issues with Ghan Kilburn City last season and the most recent incident was the last straw.

“I am just sick to death of the fact they (the League) just don’t take appropriate action and it’s the same perpetrators and the same club involved every single time,” Smith said.

“I am disappointed and angry at how this continues to happen with a serial offender.

“It was very hard as a club president to know if you’re going to be protected and I think that brings up a bigger issue of player welfare and duty of care.

“The League has a duty of care to its players and members and is it going to take someone to end up in a wheelchair or worse for the League to take proper disciplinary action?”

Smith said during a meeting with the League last Wednesday he was also shown footage of a spectator known to Adelaide Croatia ‘king hitting’ a Ghan player.

He said that behaviour was also unacceptable and believed his ex-club needed to stamp that out.

“I don’t condone violence in any kind of capacity,” Smith said.

“To be alerted to that is quite sickening and shocking but this guy has no actual connection to the club.

CLUB STATEMENT

1/ During yesterday’s SAASL Templin Cup game, an Adelaide Croatia player was viciously assaulted during play. At this point, the game was called off.

— Adelaide Croatia Vukovi (@CroatiaVukovi) February 22, 2021

“He isn’t a member or an affiliate of the club.

“But it’s the League’s inaction in previous seasons that’s escalated to this and no one goes into the game looking for that.”

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.

A SAPOL statement 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 League’s Templin Cup competition, was then called off.

Both teams were suspended, pending the results the investigation.

Ghan Kilburn City would not comment on the incident or the investigation report.

Adelaide Croatia president Marko Cugura was contacted but also declined to comment.

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

Ghan, meanwhile, will take on fellow Saturday SAASL division one side Adelaide Titans during the FFA Cup 2021 South Australia Preliminary Rounds Round One.

All matches will be played across the weekend of March 26-28.