Business heavyweights including fund manager Anton Tagliaferro and Tabcorp director David Gallop understand the anger of football fans over the sale of grand final rights to Sydney but say it does not excuse the violence seen at the weekend’s Melbourne Victory match.

Victory’s match against Melbourne City on Saturday was abandoned when 150 spectators (according to police estimates) stormed the field and attacked City goalkeeper Tom Glover, who was left bloodied after being hit in the face with a bucket, as well as referee Alex King.