Stadium boss stands firm on Melbourne Victory ban while out-of-office on suggested sick leave

There’s a new twist in a bid to ban Melbourne Victory fans from Coopers Stadium with the venue boss saying it wasn’t a mistake – now he’s been sent home on ‘sick leave’.

The boss of Coopers Stadium maintains Melbourne Victory fans should be banned from the stadium next year despite the controversial direction being overruled.

Long-time venue operator chief executive Anthony Kirchner on Saturday doubled-down on his decision while also revealing he’d been “advised” to take sick leave on the back of the incident.

On Thursday, an announcement declaring the club’s spectators would not be sold tickets for next year’s match against Adelaide United due to “violent and riotous behaviour that has become synonymous with this fixture” briefly appeared on the venue’s website.

The ban was short-lived with Adelaide Venue Management chairman Andrew Daniels quickly stepping in to claim the statement 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“When it was realised that it had gone up it was as quickly as possible it was withdrawn,’’ Mr Daniels said at the time.

“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.’’

The original statement banning Victory supporters.

However, on Saturday this was refuted by Mr Kirchner.

“There was no error or backflip from AVM management, I authorised the statement to be issued in my capacity as AVM CEO,” he wrote in an email.

“The AVM Board was aware of my intended position on this matter and Chair Andrew Daniels had requested that AVM management show leadership on this issue. This was minuted accordingly.

“As AVM CEO, the safety of all concerned is my first priority, but I also have very specific responsibilities under the WHS Act whereby I can be personally fined hundreds of thousands of dollars or jailed for up to ten years if I’m found to be negligent.

“These penalties shall now fall at the feet of those who made the decision to overturn my decision should a serious safety incident occur. It’s only a matter of time.”

Mr Kirchner referenced meetings with APL (which runs the A-League’s Men competition) officials to discuss “AVM’s and SAPOL’s concerns re safety at AUFC vs. Melbourne Victory matches”.

Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium. Victory fans celebrate goal with a flare. Photo Sarah Reed.

Mr Kirchner, who has held the top job at AVM for more than 18 years, also revealed on Saturday he’d been advised by Mr Daniels to “take sick leave”.

“AVM achieved a record financial result in 2022/23, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they concoct … and being advised just two week’s ago at my performance appraisal that ‘I fully met expectations’ and receiving a 4.5 per cent pay increase,” he said.

The Sunday Mail attempted to reach Mr Daniels for comment.