Hooligans wreak havoc at Federation Square, leading to Saturday’s live site being axed

A group of balaclava-clad thugs who set off flares during the Matildas semi-final are linked to the same group who stormed the pitch at AAMI Park during an A-League game.

Melbourne Victory hooligans were among the thugs who wrecked the Federation Square festivities leading to the World Cup live site being canned, it can be revealed.

After more than 50 flares were set off during the semi-final on Wednesday night, the state government said Saturday’s Federation Square live site for the Matildas’ third place playoff was being cancelled, with AAMI Park standing alone as the major screening venue.

The “horrendous” behaviour during the Australia-England match saw barricades being torn down and families forced to flee the site before the match started.

Several Victory hooligans posted photographs showing flares being lit and strewn across Federation Square.

@heraldsun_ Fans have smashed down barricades for a second time tonight at Fed Square, sparking fears of a crowd crush. #matildas#australia#fifawomensworldcup♬ original sound - Herald Sun

A picture shared on the Instagram page @ultrasmentality_australia of flares being set off at Federation Square.

There were flares lit and strewn across Federation Square.

One thug, who belongs to hooligan group Horda, has previously been suspended and banned from attending matches in two soccer leagues.

Horda is one of many “ultras” groups partly responsible for the violent AAMI Park pitch invasion in December last year.

Other “ultra” group members posted images and footage of themselves and mates wearing balaclavas and brandishing flares.

One woman told how one of her daughters was hit in the head by a bottle.

More than 50 flares were set off at Federation Square on Wednesday night. Picture: Getty

There will be no live site at Federation Square for Saturday’s third place playoff. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“About an hour and a half before the game, flares started being thrown, we had a poor kid next to us burn their jeans, another girl in front of us, a flare hit her in the back, burnt her jacket,” she told 3AW.

“It was absolutely horrendous (and) it wasn’t a handful of people … so we left before the game.”

A state government spokesman said Federation Square management had made the decision to cancel the live site, which had hosted 140,000 people during the tournament, due to safety concerns.

“It is clear that if there was a repeat of last night’s behaviour it would be unsafe for families, fans and staff,” the spokesman said.

“The Melbourne live site will now be at AAMI Park and those arrangements remain unaffected.”

Victoria Police said it was lucky no one was hurt as dozens of flares were hurled into the throng.

“More than 50 flares were discharged and multiple thrown into the crowd. Luckily at this stage, we’re not aware of anyone being injured,” a police spokesperson said.

It’s understood four men aged between 16 to 23 were issued fines of $962 for possessing flares while police issued a warning to another 16-year-old male who threw the combustible device.

Investigations into the behaviour are continuing.