Melbourne Victory hit with huge fine and sanctions, but escape points deduction over pitch invasion

Melbourne Victory have been hit with a huge fine and sanctions for fans, but avoided a points deduction after pitch invasion, writes ADAM PEACOCK.

Melbourne Victory have found out the full reprecussions for last month’s pitch invasion. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Melbourne Victory has been fined $550,000 but avoided an immediate points deduction following the pitch invasion that caused the pre-Christmas Melbourne Derby to be abandoned.

Victory fans will be banned from sitting in the active section behind the northern end at home games, which is the area where the fans spilled onto the ground. They will also be banned from attending away games for the rest of the season.

Victory has been hit with a 10 points suspended sentence that will be in play for this season, and the next three, should the club’s fans break any supporter conduct rules over that time.

Football Australia handed down the severe sanctions following a three-week investigation into chaotic events of the 20 minute mark of the game against rivals Melbourne City, which came after a week of protest following the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) decision to sell grand final hosting rights to the NSW government.

Football Australia determined the sanction in its role as regulator of the game across Australia, with the APL not involved in working out the punishment.

The breakdown of the mammoth $550,000 fine is as follows:

- Payment of $150,000 to the home team Melbourne City, for the cost of repairing the damage at AAMI Park

- $150,000 fine paid to Football Australia

- Further $100,000 suspended fine, to be triggered by further fan misconduct

- $50,000 paid to the cost of restaging the Derby, which will commence at the 22nd minute mark with City up 1-0. The replay of the game will take place in April.

- The remaining $100,000 of the huge fine has already been paid through the interim sanctions - which have included the banning of tickets to non-members and the closure of the active area - that have been in place since game on December 17.

- The suspended points deduction (10 points) will be triggered if any Victory fans are found in serious breach of the supporter conduct, such as another pitch invasion, the assault of players or coaches.

Football Australia says the return of Victory’s active supporter groups in 2023/24 will be dependent on dialogue between the club, the APL and Football Australia to implement determined measures.

Melbourne City keeper Tom Glover is escorted off the pitch amid the chaos of the crowd misbehaviour. Picture: Dave Hewison/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“They really crossed the line, and that is completely unacceptable in Australian football,” FA CEO James Johnson said about the events of December 17.

“Going forward we will establish a taskforce that Football Australia will manage. It will involve the Victoria and NSW Police, representatives of the APL, clubs and experts that can ensure things like flares don’t enter the pitch and our stadiums and matches remain safe places.

“We believe the sanctions are fair, justified to keep our (football) community happy.”

The club has seven days to appeal, or accept Football Australia’s determination.

“We hope Melbourne Victory accept there are some issues, and accept the ban,” Johnson said.

“I hope they don’t (appeal). I hope common sense will prevail and work together… to change the direction of those event that occurred.”

Johnson said a points deduction was spoken about, and hasn’t ruled out that course of action.

“Deducting points was considered,” he said.

“We went back to what is ultimately important and that is integrity of our competition. The logic is to put the responsibility on the spectators of the club to deter and self-regulate. It would need to be serious misconduct.

“Fans running on the pitch, that would be a trigger. Fans assaulting a player, that would be a trigger.”

For now, the Victory has avoided becoming the first club to be deducted points in more than 30 years for fan behaviour in Australian football, after Preston were docked four points in the 1991/92 NSL season.

Harsh sanctions have also been handed out to Melbourne Victory fans. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Seventeen fans have so far been banned from between ten years to life for their role in the pitch invasion, while the man who threw a bucket at City goalkeeper Tom Glover also facing criminal charges as is due back in court on February 27.

The financial penalties will severely hamper the club too, as it recovers from two seasons of little revenue thanks to the pandemic.

Victory has lost its three games since the Derby debacle to sit second last on the A League Men’s ladder.

Victory has nine home games remaining this season, with the next scheduled for AAMI Park on January 26 against Sydney FC. Victory will also host Melbourne City in the season’s third derby on February 18.

It caps a horror week for the club with the biggest fanbase in the A Leagues, with star recruit Nani suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

Originally published as Melbourne Victory hit with huge fine and sanctions, but escape points deduction over pitch invasion