Absolute madness as World Cup fans storm barricades

Things got wild at Melbourne’s Federation Square with fans going berserk while trying to watch the Matildas play the Lionesses.

Excitement spilled over into insane scenes as crowds pack venues across Australia to watch the Matildas take on the Lionesses.

The two teams faced off at Stadium Australia in Sydney, but there were scenes all over the country.

Those unable to watch in person did the next best thing and gathered to cheer their team in front of big screens.

Things got pretty wild at Federation Square. Picture: Twitter

It didn’t take long for the flares to be lit. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Police were on hand to keep things under control. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The crowd beginning to find its voice at fed square. History ready to be made pic.twitter.com/KKKgZ4lHfd

— Athos Sirianos (@AthosSirianos) August 16, 2023

Fed Square is already at capacity. THERE’S AN HOUR UNTIL KICKOFF 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3fKAwUppUc

— Lachie Flannigan (@lachieflannigan) August 16, 2023

The barricades on the river side have been pushed down for a second time and an extra hundred two to three hundred people have rushed in to Fed Square. #FIFAWWC#[e-mail]/g8DshnyY0m

— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) August 16, 2023

Fans at Federation Square watch the Matildas play. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Plenty of people have showed up in Melbourne. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Police were trying to calm things down.

Melbourne - Wild scenes at Federation Square

It was a powder keg situation at Melbourne’s Federation Square — with some extremely rowdy scenes before the match even began.

Barricades holding back the crowd were repeatedly rushed as eager fans overwhelmed local officials — with the mounted police brought in to try and maintain control.

A witness at the scene described the scene to news.com.au as “like a very bad mosh pit”.

“All the families with kids are leaving, they keep repeating over the speakers that it’s a family friendly event.

“There are about 300-400 agitators and I’ve seen 15 flares or so. It's hooliganism.”

An announcer requested multiple times that people move to the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium — which was greeted by loud boos.

3AW’s Shane McInnes wrote on social media: “Police and security outnumbered at Federation Square.

“Multiple flares and people bursting in to an already packed precinct forcing families to leave early due to safety concerns. Kind of sad for what should be a celebration.”

Sky News reporter Simon Love wrote: “Disappointed families who’ve been at Fed Square for hours have been forced to leave the venue after crowds burst through barricades when the venue was at capacity.”

Matildas Fans Pat Lugowski and Justin Sunderland are watching the match at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour in Sydney. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Excited fans Isabella Leslie, Jessica Helinski and Tashi Taylor gather at Tumbalong Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Brendan Read

Aaliyah Ferreira, Krystal Sherry, Alexis Stampetta, Belinda Stampetta, Elisa Sherry all from Wetherill Park gather in Sydney to watch the semi final. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Brendan Read

Lachlan Fenton of Gosford finds a cosy spot to watch the match at Tumbalong Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Brendan Read

Jack Truong, Matthew Mckelvie, Kimberly van der Wulp, Thibault Walker and Pat Campbell at the Park Hotel. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Brendan Read

Meanwhile in Sydney more than 80,000 fans making their way to Olympic Park for the FIFA World Cup semi final faced a battle to get onto public transport.

Fans making their way to the game were told to allow for extra time to get to the ground due to packed public transport services.

But even those who planned ahead were facing long lines to board the trains.

Video from Redfern, one of the stations where passengers can catch a train to Olympic Park, showed chaotic scenes as football fans tried to get on board.

Sydney Trains and NSW TransLink warned there would be more than 100,000 people expected around Olympic Park.

“Extra trains will be running from Central, the North Shore, Strathfield, Macarthur, Liverpool, Schofields and Penrith,” Sydney Trains said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flown into Sydney from Brisbane to be at the game, but it will be a quick turnaround as he will be back in the River City for the ALP National conference on Thursday.

Other fans gathered around public live sites across the country to watch the do-or-die game.

In Adelaide, fans watched at entertainment precinct Festival Plaza and tennis arena The Drive.

In Sydney, Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta was open as was Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park.

Fans in Brisbane were packed into the South Bank precinct and across the Brisbane River at Riverstage as well as King George Square.

- with NCA Newswire