AFL fans furious after they were kicked out of stadium over COVID scare

Footy fans have been left bewildered and furious after they were kicked out of a Victorian stadium after an ominous sign was projected on the big screen.

Footy fans were kicked out of Geelong’s home ground over COVID concerns. Picture: Twitter

An ominous warning from Victoria’s health department that was projected on the big screen at Geelong’s home ground has left AFL fans furious.

The second round clash between Brisbane and Geelong descended into chaos when the Victorian government issued new advice for people who had arrived in the state from Queensland in response to a mystery COVID-19 case in Brisbane.

“Urgent message from the Victorian Department of Heath,” the alert that flashed up on the scoreboard at quarter-time read.

“All attendees at tonight’s event who have arrived in Victoria from Queensland since March 12 should immediately leave the venue and get a test.

“If you have been to a listed exposure site you must follow the advice of Queensland Health.”

Footy fans were told to leave after a message was projected on the big screen. Picture: Twitter

Just minutes before the first bounce at GMHBA Stadium, the Victorian government issued the advice saying it applied to anyone who had arrived from Brisbane or the Moreton Bay region since March 12.

“(They) must immediately self-isolate, get a coronavirus test within 72 hours, and stay isolated until they receive a negative result,” a statement from the health department read.

But the game was allowed to go ahead because the Brisbane Lions outfit had been granted a last-minute exemption from the state government due to the enhanced biosecurity protocols they were abiding by.

The latest health advice, urging anyone who had been in Queensland since March 12 to leave, repeatedly echoed through the loudspeakers at the ground.

Commentators Luke Hodge and Wayne Carey were forced to abandon their post.

Technically, shouldn’t every Brisbane player leave the ground and self isolate?#AFLCatsLions

— Andy Lee (@andytomlee) March 26, 2021

How many Brisbane fans you reckon will actually leave the ground after travelling all that way 1 minute before bounce? I'd say less than 0%. #AFLCatsLions

— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) March 26, 2021

Fans have been left furious after spectators were told to leave the ground given the entire Brisbane squad just flew down from the sunshine state.

The controversial decision was made just hours after Queensland revealed a new case of COVID-19, a 26-year-old man who had been infectious in the community for at least a week.

Health officials still have no idea how he caught the virus but believe his case is linked to the mid-March cluster.

Up to 30 Queenslanders were told to leave the ground and self-isolate, Fox Sports reported.

Fans at the ground during the Geelong v Brisbane clash. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL

Brisbane officials were also ushered away from corporate areas.

The last-minute decision left many high-profile footy fans and diehard punters furious.

“Technically shouldn’t every Brisbane player have to leave the ground and self-isolate,” comedian Andy Lee tweeted.

Another fan said: “Imagine telling supporters that have been in Brisbane from March 12 to leave Simmons Stadium immediately but they let the Brisbane Lions players keep playing.”

Imagine telling supporters that have been in Brisbane from March 12 to leave Simmons Stadium immediately but they let the Brisbane Lions players keep playing 🤦‍♂️ #covid19qld#Afl#AFLCatsLions

— Patrick Lucarelli (@patluca97) March 26, 2021

@TomElliott3AW We are GMHBA. At qtr time they announced because of the covid case in Brisbane anyone at the ground who has returned from Q'ld since March 12 must leave the venue immediately and get tested.Hello what about the entire Brisbane team FFS! #montypython. #AFLCatsLions

— John Pohlman (@PohlmanJohn) March 26, 2021

Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said on Friday authorities had not found the source of the infection.

But later genomic sequencing determined he had the UK strain and his case was likely linked to the state’s mid-March outbreak, which involved a doctor at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and two returned travellers.

The landscaper has been infectious since last Friday and began feeling ill on Monday, where he remained at home – apart from a trip to Aldi – until being tested on Thursday.

Dr Young said two tests were conducted, with both returning positive results.