Accused soccer thug left country days after AAMI Park chaos

An accused soccer hooligan boarded a plane to Europe soon after the violent pitch invasion at AAMI park and has not returned.

Paul Malone is an accused soccer hooligan who has flown overseas to Luxembourg. Picture: Supplied

An accused soccer hooligan who flew overseas just days after last month’s AAMI Park chaos can be identified as a well-known figure in Melbourne Victory’s controversial active support movement.

Paul Malone, 33, who is back in Luxembourg after a short Christmas trip in Melbourne, is believed to have left ahead of schedule after the violent pitch invasion last month on December 17.

It’s understood Mr Malone has been working in Luxembourg since early 2021 and regularly travels back to Melbourne.

About 150 people invaded the AAMI Park pitch, Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover was left bleeding after a bucket was thrown at his head and the game was abandoned.

Mr Malone — along with several others at the heart of the chaos – were already banned from the domestic soccer competition over a previous breach.

Paul Malone has flown overseas to Luxembourg. Picture: Supplied

Police intend to interview him over the offences of violent disorder and discharging a missile when he returns to Victoria.

Australian Border Force also confirmed he boarded a plane to Europe soon after the match and had not returned.

An analysis of Mr Malone’s Facebook activity reveals he has been involved with Victory since 2016, with several images showing him at games in the North end active support area.

He has also been keen to escape scrutiny, first changing his Facebook profile name and later deactivating his account earlier this week.

Images have also been uncovered of him pictured with a well-known Victory hooligan, who farewelled him at Tullamarine Airport in March last year, with the caption reading: “Proud of you, enjoy Luxembourg brother”.

Mr Malone also made headlines in 2015, when he took a specky to catch a cricket ball that landed in the crowd at a Big Bash match.

He went viral on social media after saying “I took an absolute screamer”, referring to the catch.

He was also pictured in Qatar cheering on the Socceroos in the World Cup in early December, with images showing him posed up with other Aussie soccer fans.

Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover was left bleeding after a bucket was thrown at his head during the pitch invasion. Picture: Getty Images

As of last Friday, investigators from operation Astute had identified 42 of those they were seeking over the chaos and had charged 32.

Five of those identified had not been found.

A number of others came forward in recent days after police released more images of people of interest.

Police will refer the names of those charged so far over violent disorder and discharge missile matters to Football Australia.

The Herald Sun last month revealed the thug who hurled a metal bucket at Glover’s face in the pitch invasion was 23-year-old Alex Agelopoulos from Craigieburn.

Police intend to interview Paul over the offences of violent disorder and discharging a missile when he returns to Victoria.

Paul is a well-known figure in Melbourne Victory’s controversial active support movement.

His charges include violent disorder, discharge of a missile, intent to cause injury, recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault, entry to a sporting competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.

He escaped to Newcastle despite being on bail, which a Magistrate last month described as “relatively notorious”.

Another man, 19, of Meadow Heights, was charged over a separate alleged assault on Glover, as well as an alleged assault on a security guard.

An Alphington man, 18, is the third man to be charged with assault on Glover.

The three men have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 27.

Mr Malone could not be reached for comment.