A-League: Melbourne derby descends into chaos with violent pitch invasion
Football Australia has launched an investigation into the shocking and violent pitch invasion at the Melbourne derby which left a player and ground staff injured. In confronting footage, that has gone viral around the world, a mob of hooligans can be seen causing mayhem. WATCH THE FOOTAGE.
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It will go down as one of Australian football’s darkest days.
Little more than a week after the Socceroos’ heroics at the World Cup in Qatar united the nation in joy, a violent and shameful pitch invasion which saw a player and ground staff seriously injured, forced an A-League match to be abandoned.
Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover sustained a suspected concussion and a nasty gash to his face after being assaulted by a Victory fan with a metal bucket as all hell broke loose during the Melbourne derby at AAMI Park.
Glover required stitches for the cut and officiating referee Alex King also sustained a cut to his right eyebrow during the wild and scary scenes when Victory fans stormed the pitch, although a Football Australia spokesperson said he was “more rattled than hurt”.
IGNITION: BARRIERS STORMED BY MANIAC FANS
Fans from both clubs hurled flares onto the pitch, but when Glover threw two flares back into the Victory fans area at the northern end, it sparked a wild reaction as approximately 100 Victory fans stormed the pitch, and encircled Glover in scary scenes.
After Melbourne Victory fans stormed the pitch they then began swinging off the goal frame as the terrifying situation exploded.
The incident drew the ire of Australian sports stars, who have condemned the outlandish and violent behaviour.
Wtf… https://t.co/mMEcG0xKPz
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) December 17, 2022
The club with the biggest supporter base in the country & the most potential to make a powerful, but peaceful, statement & a section of Victory ‘fans’ do that. Beyond idiotic. Momentum of a united push for good now lost. #MVCvMCI#ALeague
— Rob Greenwood (@robgreenwood1) December 17, 2022
Respected football commentator Andy Harper was dismayed by the violence and labelled the offenders “anarchistic thugs”.
Fans have likened the chaotic scenes from the Melbourne A-League derby as unprecedented for a sporting event in Australia.
Victory fan Bernie McCarthy described the atmosphere as “crazy”.
“There’s been about 40 flares, the city keeper threw a flare back at the crowd, that’s what set everything off.”
“We don’t know what’s going on outside the ground, but I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”
NIGHT OF SHAME: ‘WE’VE GONE FROM 100 TO ZERO’
City players, including World Cup hero Jamie Maclaren, returned to the field without their match gear on, to thank their fans.
Former Adelaide United star Bruce Djite told News Corp that it was Australian soccer’s darkest day.
“We’ve literally gone from 100 to zero in a matter of weeks (following the World Cup),” he said.
“It’s undone a lot of work, definitely. I’ve never seen nothing [sic] like that, ever.
“I’ve played in Turkey, China, Korea, Indonesia, I’ve never seen nothing [sic] like that.
“I can’t believe that I saw what I just saw. It was surreal.”
Djite labelled the drama “extremely” deflating. “It’s bitterly disappointing ... it’s a minority of fans but that’s going to take all the attention and that’s that,” Djite said.
“It’s worse than a black eye, it can recover, but it’s going to take a long time ... years.”
A passionate soccer fan at the chaotic Melbourne A-League derby fears Saturday night’s chaos will be “a scar on the game in Australia after everything we’ve achieved”.
Melbourne City fan Jean-Luc Giuca watched the unprecedented scenes unfold from a hospitality suite on level two.
FOREVER ‘A SCAR ON FOOTBALL IN AUSTRALIA'
He said he supported the reasons behind the fans’ protest following the APL’s decision to stage the grand final in Sydney for the next three years.
Giuca said the APL’s decision had “backfired” and the football community had “proven how strong they are in this country … and how committed and passionate they are about the game”.
But he said storming the pitch and threatening players’ safety was a step too far.
“A peaceful walkout would have been sufficient, but there’s been a little bit that’s happened that has tipped it over the edge,” he said.
“The way I see this playing out, it’s going to be a scar on football in Australia after everything we’ve achieved … storming the ground is not on.”
METAL BUCKET HURLED AT GOALKEEPER’S FACE
Then one Victory fan grabbed a metal bucket and threw it into Glover’s face, instantly cutting the City custodian’s face wide open.
In a low point for Australian soccer, it forced all the players and coaches to leave the pitch and technical area. Glover had to receive medical attention for his injuries.
The match was officially abandoned due to player safety at 8.43pm.
MATILDAS GOALIE SMASHES VICTORY OVER INVASION
Matildas goalkeeper Tegan Micah has condemned the behaviour of Melbourne Victory supporters and taken aim at the club itself for its failure to keep banned supporters out of games.
There are growing suspicions the fans who invaded AAMI Park and attacked Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover were fans already banned from attending A League games.
But while the ugly scenes which have already gone global will form part of a formal investigation, questions are already being asked about just how stringent the Victory enforce lifetime bans among problem supporters.
Micah recalled having glass bottles thrown at her by Victory supporters during an A League Women’s game only to be later told the culprits had already been handed life time bans for attending matches.
OSM have now assaulted 2 Melbourne City goal keepers.
— Isaac Wiles (@isaacxwiles) December 17, 2022
1) Tegan Micah
2) Tom Glover
EXACTLY RIGHT! @gomvfc fans throwing GLASS BOTTLES at us and all I got was an “apology†and notice that the fans were ALREADY BANNED FOR LIFE & STILL GOT IN WITH GLASS BOTTLES! Melbourne victory continues to ALLOW their fans to get away with this behaviour! It’s a disgrace!! https://t.co/S3X3BzwPHt
— Teagan Micah (@TeaganMicah) December 17, 2022
City Terrace supporters group issued a statement blaming the Victory supporters — Original Style Melbourne — for the farcical scenes.
The OSM group had challenged their members prior to the match to take part in the walkout at the 20th minute mark, adding those who don’t follow would be considered “scabs”.
How a walkout descended into anarchy has left the Australian football community seething.
“What happened tonight was nothing short of disgraceful @originalstylemelbourne, you should hang your heads in shame,” the statement read.
“You took our message and turned it into an act of violence that will be talked about in the footballing world for months. You have thrown the entirety of our protest into jeopardy.
“Football is our beautiful game, a game we have nurtured for generations. Tonight is not what football is about.
“We genuinely don’t know where to go next.”
And our fall from grace is complete. Like the World Cup never happened. Very sad & angry.
— simonhill1894 (@simonhill1894) December 17, 2022
FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA RESPONDS TO BEDLAM
Football Australia condemned the frightening episode when it released a statement following the shocking scenes.
The organisation said because of fans from the Melbourne Victory FC end entering the field of play, Football Australia match officials had abandoned the match in accordance with Law 5.3 of the Laws of the Game in order to protect the integrity of the match.
The club respectfully notes the statements of the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Football Australia (FA).
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) December 17, 2022
The club will make a further statement in due course.
APL Statement: https://t.co/9Z7z3EhoB6
FA Statement: https://t.co/CAFaF9rRu2pic.twitter.com/qEwVb464WK
Such behaviour has no place in Australian Football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions to be handed down.
Football Australia said “strong sanctions” will be handed down to rogue fans involved in the attack.
“Such behaviour has no place in Australian Football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions to be handed down,” they said.
NIGHT OF SHAME: ‘WE’VE GONE FROM 100 TO ZERO’
City players, including World Cup hero Jamie Maclaren, returned to the field without their match gear on, to thank their fans.
Former Adelaide United star Bruce Djite told News Corp that it was Australian soccer’s darkest day.
“We’ve literally gone from 100 to zero in a matter of weeks (following the World Cup),” he said.
Shame on you , absolute scum act. https://t.co/TezK86jvtb
— Ryan Papenhuyzen (@ryanpapenhuyzen) December 17, 2022
“It’s undone a lot of work, definitely. I’ve never seen nothing [sic] like that, ever.
“I’ve played in Turkey, China, Korea, Indonesia, I’ve never seen nothing [sic] like that.
“I can’t believe that I saw what I just saw. It was surreal.”
Djite labelled the drama “extremely” deflating.
“It’s bitterly disappointing ... it’s a minority of fans but that’s going to take all the attention and that’s that,” Djite said.
“It’s worse than a black eye, it can recover, but it’s going to take a long time ... years.”
Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic condemned the pitch invasion and called it the darkest night in Australian football.
“Our game is in tatters. An absolute disgrace what happened tonight. Cannot believe we are here after such an amazing WC and so much potential to see our game grow. Irreparable damage done. Darkest day for football in Australia,” Vukovic wrote on Twitter.
Tensions had been building throughout the night in the wake of the Australian Professional Leagues’ decision to give the A-League grand final to Sydney for the next three years.
Fans from both clubs had mooted that they would walk out of the stadium at the 20th minute in protest of the APL decision, but nobody could have anticipated the disgraceful scenes that occurred.
HOSTILITIES GROW AS CAMERAMAN STRUCK BY FLARE
Moments before the Glover incident, a flare from the Victory fans area hit a Network Ten TV cameraman on the back, prompting him to turn around and throw his arms out, questioning why the fans were acting in that manner.
He then left his post presumably for safety reasons.
The chaotic scenes forced a strong police response.
But the City fans at the southern end also behaved poorly.
WHAT RESULT WILL BE IF MATCH ISN’T RESCHEDULED
Melbourne City were leading Melbourne Victory 1-0 before their match descended into chaos as a result of the shocking pitch invasion from Victory fans.
City got their lead after Aiden O’Neill engaged in a one-two with Richard van der Venne, and curled it beautifully into the roof of the net.
But after the match was abandoned due to the fan violence, which left City goalkeeper Tom Glover and referee Alex King both sporting cuts to their face, the competition points on offer from the game are now up in the air.
At this juncture, it’s unclear as to whether the game will be rescheduled or abandoned altogether.
However, if the Victory are eventually seen to be culpable, and the match isn’t rescheduled, then it will likely be a 3-0 forfeit win to Melbourne City.
POLICE RESPOND TO ANARCHY
Victoria Police said no arrests have been made at this stage.
“The match was abandoned after approximately 150-200 Melbourne Victory supporters entered the field of play,” a spokesperson said.
“A Melbourne City player and official were injured during the incursion and a cameraman was injured by a flare.
“These incidents are being investigated by police.
“There were no other incidents reported to police and at this stage no arrests have been made.”
VICTORY FANS SPEAK OUT: ‘LOOKS BAD’
Outside The Precinct Hotel, Victory fan Nick Davies and City fan James Guardiani said they were worried about the image and stereotypes local soccer fans would get after Saturday’s chaos.
But both felt the fans had to make a statement to the APL over its decision.
“We’re not hooligans but we’re passionate about the league and the decision,” Nick said.
“Flares are a show of passion and being willing to risk everything for the club.
“The atmosphere was electric before the pitch invasion … the fans were all united against the APL’s decision,” James said.
“There was obviously going to be protests but what happened was over the top,” he said.
“It looks bad.. but the only way for us to be heard was to do these actions,” he said.
TROUBLE WAS ALWAYS COMING
Prior to the game chants of “f--- the APL” rang around the stadium from both sets of fans.
The City fans held up banners that read: “Football Without Fans is Nothing!!” and “When Money Tak$ Fans Will Walk. APL Out”.
City offical update: Glover has a suspected concussion. https://t.co/b2pZIpfE6P
— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) December 17, 2022
The Victory fans also held up signs that read: “APL Knows the demands. Football for the Fans (featuring eight dollar signs)” and “No More Lie$ Are we invisible fans?”
The Victory end also held up a sign with a pig wearing the letters “APL” surrounded by dollar bills, with the message “Look at Yourself” around it.
Prior to the stoppage, Victory fans had been sporadically letting off small fireworks into the air.
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