Tensions flare at Melbourne Victory and City AAMI Park soccer clash

Angry crowds hurled drinks and abuse at police as a soccer fan was dragged from AAMI Park. Watch the shocking footage.

Shocking footage has emerged of a fan being dragged out of the stand at AAMI Park while angry spectators hurl drinks at police.

Security staff wearing Melbourne City shirts are seen pulling a man down the aisle while fans are heard screaming out expletives among pleas to “let him go”.

A police officer then takes the man out of the hands of security, before the man appears to push the officer.

A man was taken away by police.

Tensions flare at AAMI Park.

The officer then appears to pulls the man to the ground while another four policemen and a policewoman have drinks thrown on them by fans above.

Those officers briefly look up at the fans throwing drinks before escorting the man out.

The officer initially pushed by the man is then heard yelling in his ear “don’t have a f —king crack at me c —t.”

Another fan then jumps down from the stands and falls on his back, before the video ends.

The man was one of twelve fans evicted from the stadium by police.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the twelve fans were evicted for “innapropriate or offensive behaviour”, while one man was arrested for being drunk.

“Victoria Police was generally pleased with crowd behaviour at the A-League derby match at AAMI Park on Saturday, 18 February,” she said.

Earlier in the night soccer fans at the clash between Melbourne Victory and City - the clubs’ first meeting since the infamous December 17 pitch invasion - were met with long queues before the start of the game.

Some fans were left stranded outside AAMI Park for a period because their tickets weren’t scanning in.

An announcement over AAMI Park speakers said the stadium’s system was experiencing a “server error”.

“For anyone who is having issues with the tickets, we’re extremely sorry,” a woman announced.

It meant fans had to line up outside the ticket sales booth to have their tickets physically printed. Long queues consequently formed before kick-off.

Problems with the ticketing system left thousands of fans outside before the kick-off. Picture: Ian Currie

Soccer fans of all ages were forced to wait. Picture: Ian Currie

Teenage Victory fan James Stow said the security measures at the ground were excessive after he was kicked out for wearing a Covid face mask.

He said security personnel argued the face mask was an attempt to disguise his identity and that he could’ve been one of the supporters banned following the pitch invasion.

Mr Stow, 16, said he tried to explain he had no reason to hide his identity from security and was instead joking with his friends.

“I put a little face mask on as a joke with my mates. I went out to get some food, and the next minute, security called me over and I’ve been kicked out,” he explained.

“They just said, ‘nah mate, you’ve got to go’.

“They thought I was a banned fan. It’s a joke.

“They’re obviously targeting us Melbourne Victory supporters. Only a few people did the wrong thing, now we’re getting targeted.”

A heavy police and security presence greeted fans arriving early for Saturday night’s A-League Melbourne derby sequel as the prospect of a repeat of December’s violent scenes cast a shadow over the cross-city contest.

Officers were out in force, with members of the Police Mounted Branch, around AAMI Park and on Olympic Boulevard in the build-up to the first meeting of Melbourne Victory and City since the pitch invasion on December 17.

On that day, fans from the Victory end stormed the pitch and a metal bucket struck City goalkeeper Tom Glover leaving him dazed and bloodied.

Security was high at the soccer A-League Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne City clash at AAMI Park - the first between the clubs since the pitch invasion. Picture: Ian Currie

Soccer fans wait to get into stadium. Picture: Ian Currie

Victory’s hard-core supporter group Original Style Melbourne (OSM) were defiant in the days before the clash, telling devotees to “stand the f – k up” in defiance of Football Australia sanctions.

Some Victory supporters were gathering at the Cricketers’ Arms in Richmond before heading to the stadium.

AAMI Park security officers at entry gates were checking fans, making them open multiple compartments in their bags and even their drink bottles before they were allowed to enter.

Security was also on alert for flares and other items that could cause crowd trouble.

The City-supporting Raffetto family said a few bad apples from Victory’s supporter group had ruined the bunch and derbies had been largely peaceful affairs before.

“Those Victory fans knew what they were doing and a lot of them aren’t proper fans of the club,” Sebastian said.

“They’re people who just come to look for a fight, which was stupid.”

Mum Anna said it hadn’t deterred her from taking the kids to the match.

“In general, it’s a very family friendly sport. Previous derbies, we’d never seen any fights.

“The tension is there but nothing’s ever broken out. I feel safe bringing the kids. We’re happy to be back.”

The family said they would be disappointed to see their own fans light flares because it would prove right the unruly soccer supporter narrative.

Police said they were pleased with the crowd behaviour during and after the derby clash, with only one arrest being made.

“Victoria Police was generally pleased with crowd behaviour at the A-League derby match at AAMI Park,” a police spokesperson said.

One man was arrested for being drunk and 12 others were evicted from the match by police for what they described as “inappropriate and offensive behaviour”.