Goalkeeper avoids suspension despite throwing flare into crowd

A call has been made on banning flares by Melbourne City, with goalkeeper Tom Glover cleared of any wrongdoing over a recent A-League pitch invasion.

Fans attack goalkeeper Tom Glover during the pitch invasion at AAMI Park. Picture: Supplied

Melbourne City’s Tom Glover has avoided suspension for throwing a flare into a crowd of Melbourne Victory fans after a referee declared the goalkeeper had not done it purposely.

The decision came as City decided to close its own active supporter area at AAMI Park for its next two home games and ban the use of flares.

Having been deemed fit enough to play on Tuesday night against Central Coast Mariners despite suffering concussion and a cut face after being hit with a bucket during the Melbourne derby pitch invasion at AAMI Park on December 17, Glover has also been cleared by an independent match review panel.

Glover’s tossing of the flare – which had been initially thrown towards him – led to about 150 Victory fans invading the pitch, the assault of Glover, referee Alex King and a television cameraman, and the decision to abandon the derby after 20 minutes with City leading 1-0.

Ten Victory fans have subsequently been banned from all football-related activity in Australia, two of them for life.

The Victory has also been hit with a host of sanctions as investigations continue, with further punishment expected.

However, Glover has avoided a ban, largely due to King’s match report, part of which stated: “Tom Glover the goalkeeper had thrown the two flares back. One went over hoarding behind the goal and unfortunately one went back into the crowd. In no way do I believe this was done purposely by Tom Glover.”

A bleeding Tom Glover is escorted off the field during the Melbourne derby pitch invasion at AAMI Park. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

With the incident having taken place before the game was abandoned, it had to be dealt with on the field by King and his fellow match officials.

To determine if Glover was to face a “violent conduct” charge, the MRP also had to be satisfied that King saw the incident, his view was not obscured, and that the incident was not alerted to him by an assistant referee, the fourth official or the video assistant referee.

A Football Australia spokesman said: “Since the independent MRP was satisfied that the incident had not escaped the referee’s attention, the MRP did not proceed to consider whether Glover should have been sanctioned with a direct red card.

“Accordingly, the MRP has not cited the incident pursuant to the regulations.”

For Tuesday night’s match and City’s home game against Western United on January 7, the City Terrace active supporter area at AAMI Park will be closed, all existing casual tickets into the City Terrace will be refunded and all casual ticket sales into the City Terrace will be suspended.

In response to Football Australia’s initial findings regarding the most recent Melbourne Derby and in consultation with Melbourne & Olympic Parks and Victoria Police, we can issue the following update regarding Active Support for our next two home A-Leagues matchdays.

— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) December 26, 2022

Also, all general admission members will be required to redeem complimentary reserved seats, while the first three rows behind the goals will be closed.

City has also announced that one of the club’s active supporters has been banned for the use of flares.

“Melbourne City is a family club, and we pride ourselves on creating a fun, safe and inclusive environment,” the club said in a statement.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to the use of flares at our matches, which is why we have decided to take this action.”

Originally published as Goalkeeper avoids suspension despite throwing flare into crowd