Football Australia issue eight more bans after Melbourne pitch invasion

Football Australia has now banned 10 people following the AAMI Park pitch invasion during the Melbourne derby.

Eight more people including a Melbourne woman have been banned from all-related football activity in Australia for “riotous behaviour” as the fallout from the pitch invasion at last Saturday’s derby at AAMI Park continues.

Two men were banned for life earlier this week by Football Australia following the pitch invasion and assault of Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover, referee Alex King and a television cameraman.

More bans, ranging from five years to 20 years for men aged from 18 to 28 and a 28-year-old woman have been announced by FA, whose officials have been working with Victoria Police.

“These bans are effective immediately and will preclude them from all related football activity including attending Football Australia-sanctioned football matches and events encompassing all A-leagues, Australia Cup, National Premier League, and national team matches and registering as a football participant,” an FA statement said.

The violations include entering the field of play without authorisation, engaging in conduct that did or was likely to cause harm or endanger others, engaging in conduct that did or was likely to cause unlawful damage to the venue or the various forms of infrastructure within the venue, and throwing a projective and/or missile in a dangerous manner.

Football Australia issue eight further bans following Melbourne Derby.https://t.co/dv8FkXyYE4

— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) December 22, 2022

An 18-year-old Alphington man was banned for 20 years after being charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.

“As promised to the Australian football community of over two million participants and the wider public, Football Australia has taken swift and decisive action against those who have brought our game into disrepute by their conduct during the Melbourne derby, and we will continue to do so as part of our ongoing investigation,” FA chief executive officer James Johnson said.

“Football is the beautiful game, it brings together people like no other sport can, and we will not let the actions of these non-football fans cast a dark cloud over the game we love.

“Football Australia will continue to work with Victoria Police and the venue to identify other guilty parties and rid our game of such people. We ask our community to make any reports to Crime Stoppers.”

“It’s pleasing to hear that current procedures around stopping those on ban lists from entering venues on match days are working but we know more needs to be done in this area, and this will be a focus for Football Australia in our ongoing conversations with the Australian Professional Leagues, clubs and venue operators.

Among those banned were a 21-year-old Northcote man who copped a 20-year ban after being charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, riotous behaviour and discharging a flare.

A 28-year-old Albion woman will also serve a five-year ban on charges of entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.

Updates on potential sanctions against Melbourne Victory are expected to be announced on Friday.

Originally published as Football Australia issue eight more bans after Melbourne pitch invasion