Rockdale football brawl: Man charged after Rockdale Ilinden v Sydney United 58 match

A man has been charged after allegedly arming himself with a lawnmower blade and throwing a brick during a violent clash between rival fans at a Sydney football match.

LATEST

One of the men accused of arming himself with a weapon and rioting as supporters of two rival Sydney football clubs clashed has faced court.

Nikola Martic, 23, has been charged with being armed with intent and rioting after a brawl broke out following the Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney United 58 FC NPL match at Ilinden Sports Centre on April 25.

Court documents reveal police will allege the Granville man was armed with a metal instrument when the melee broke out after the match.

Martic appeared before the registrar at Sutherland Local Court with his solicitor on Tuesday and did not enter a plea.

He returns to the same court on June 15.

EARLIER

A man allegedly armed himself with a lawnmower blade he found in a nearby bin when a riot erupted between spectators at a Rockdale soccer match yesterday.

Police are looking to identify various persons “very, very clearly seen committing violent acts” in a viral video, which was caused by a spectator interfering with a player during the match, according to a top cop.

The riot squad was called in to break up the brawl during a match between NSW National Premier League teams Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney United 58 following a nil-all drawn on Sunday.

Footage which is circulating on social media shows crates and building material being hurled while flares are let off at Illinden Sports Centre.

A 23 year-old-man from Granville has since been charged with riot and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Police allege he was in possession of a piece of iron, which appears to be lawnmower blade found in bins in the vicinity of the grounds.

Police will also allege that he threw a brick.

He will face Sutherland Local Court on May 18.

Two men are wanted by police for questioning over the brawl. Picture: NSW Police

Riot Squad police were called to the scene about 5pm. Picture: NSW Police

In a press conferred on Monday, St George Police Area Commander Detective Superintendent Anthony Cooke slammed the behaviour of those involved in the incident as “idiocy” and said he and sporting officials were “disgusted … that this could happen”.

He said he had spoken to Football NSW and club officials this morning and said the clubs are assisting with identification of those involved.

He said the melee was related to when a “spectator entered the field of play and interfered with one of the players during the play.”

He was then ejected from the field of play, Commander Cook continued.

“There is no indication club officials became involved in any of the behaviour,” he said.

He said they were looking for between five and seven people pictured in the disturbing video, and that they would “find themselves in the dock and will find themselves banned from the sport”.

People were armed with metal bars and bricks, according to police.

Despite talk online of possible ethnic tensions between the two teams, the police said they were not aware of that so far.

“I don’t believe that was necessarily an issue at the time,” he said.

In the video, crates were seen being thrown.

And flares were let off.

The arrest comes as police ask for a number of other men to come forward for questioning following the melee, with NSW Police Detective Superintendent Tony Cook saying: “I will know who you are today.”

“Get yourself to a police station before I come knocking on your door,” he said.

Police have released images of at least two other men wanted for questioning over the brawl.

The NSW Police Public Order and Riot Squad were called to the scene at around 5pm as supporters turned on each other armed with metal star pickets – yelling, throwing crates, bricks, flares, and charging at one another.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said three men suffered lacerations – prompting police to investigate whether some brawlers were armed – and a third was crushed in a stampede.

“After 5pm police were called to a sporting ground at West Botany St following reports of a brawl at the conclusion of a soccer match,” the spokeswoman said.

The brawl occurred at a match between Sydney United 58 and Rockdale City Suns at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

“Two men suffered lacerations to their arms and a third man was injured after being trampled in the stampede after the melee broke out.”

As inquiries into the clash continue, NSW Police have released images of two men they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. They are among at least seven others police would like to question over the incident.

One of the men is of a medium build with a black jacket, grey cap and sunglasses while the other is of a medium build and wearing a black jumper. Anyone who recognises the men is urged to contact Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000.

Supt Cook said there is a history of incidents between the opposing football clubs, which will form part of police inquiries today. “There’s been some history in the past,” he said.

Rockdale Ilinden – known until recently as the Rockdale City Suns – was first established in 1969 and is a historically Macedonian club.

In a statement posted to social media, a Ilinden club spokesperson said they did not condone violence.

“The club is aware of incidents at the conclusion of (Sunday’s) NPL fixture v Sydney United,” the statement read.

“The matter is the subject of a police investigation and as such we will not be commenting further, pending the completion of that investigation.

“Suffice to say that the club strongly does not condone anti social and criminal behaviour.”

A spokesman for Football NSW said the league was aware of the incident and had opened an investigation into the matter.

“Football NSW condemns any anti-social behaviour and any form of violence,” they said.

Rockdale Ilinden issued a statement on Monday saying it was aware of the incident and “does not condone anti social and criminal behaviour.”

The Edensor Park-based Sydney United 58 FC was established in 1958 and was then known as Sydney Croatia.

The NPL is the highest men’s competition in NSW and is often a training ground for players who ascend to Australia’s A-League competition.