A-League: evicted dad pushed into grandstand for bar, not bathroom police say

Police have rejected the claims of an evicted spectator who says he was assisting his disabled daughter.

A man was evicted from the A-League semi-final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Picture: Supplied

Police have rejected accusations their officers were “on power trips” when evicting a father from the A-League semi final last night, claiming he was attempting to enter a ticketed grandstand to access the bar, rebuffing his claims he was taking his disabled daughter to the bathroom.

In footage of the interaction from the match between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory at Sydney’s Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, a group of security staff and NSW police can be seen speaking to Rory Carroll and his family, and then escorting them out of the venue.

The Mr Carroll claims had tried taking his daughter to a disabled toilet that was in the nearby grandstand, but had been told by police they could only use one on the other end of the stadium as he did not have a ticket that allowed him access to the grandstand.

Mr Carroll took to social media to criticise the actions of security and police. “If a young girl with special needs is not allowed to climb ten steps to the toilet she uses every other week, then what can I say,” he wrote on Twitter.

It seems it’s a question of getting people like me out of the game. pic.twitter.com/uvo95nX3yF

— Rory Carroll (@CarrollRory) May 12, 2019

“I was assaulted by security, threatened by a senior police officer screaming at me in front of my children as I sat on a terrace.” Mr Carroll wrote that his daughter had been left “traumatised” by the eviction.

“I was pumped for the game tonight. Taking kids out on Mother’s Day,

“My daughter had not stopped talking about it and got dressed into her SFC (Sydney FC) gear after she finished her game this morning.

“Unfortunately that’s not how our night ended. I had to console crying girls, and put up with multiple police cars monitoring my movements as we exited the stadium.” Mr Carroll wrote on Twitter last night.

10 Uniformed Police and 4 security guards evict a father who wanted to take his disabled daughter to the closest toilet. @ALeague @9NewsSyd @SydneyFC #SYDvMVC #BigBlue #ALeague pic.twitter.com/MdXZSCv2Rq

— Tom Miles (@TomMile43729676) May 12, 2019

He accused security guards at the stadium of being on “clearly on power trips”.

But NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton told reporters today Mr Carroll was actually trying to access the grandstand on his own without a proper ticket.

Police say the father attempted to access the grandstand on several occasions in the night for access to a greater range of full strength beer being sold in the ticketed grandstand.

They said he did not mention his daughter or a disabled bathroom when trying to access the grandstand, and was followed back to his seat and asked to leave the ground.

Police also clarified they only asked Mr Carroll to leave, but that his family exited with him.

“At the time the conflict occurred he was not with his daughter, he was with an older male, and there was no expectation of that man with his daughter to enter the area to access the toilet facilities.” Mr Walton said.

“There’s not a lot we’re agreeing with this man in relation to what he’s posted.

“He wanted to access that stand area not for the disabled toilet facilities, but for the bar.

“Ultimately he went back to his seating area where, due to his behaviour, he was asked to leave.”

Mr Walton also defended the amount of police and security officers seen in the viral footage: “I wouldn’t describe it as heavy handed or over the top.”

However Mr Carroll labelled the police allegation he was attempting to buy beer as “disgraceful”.

“For the record, when driving kids a parent doesn’t usually drink. I was not drinking yesterday evening, I take my responsibilities as a driver seriously. To impugn otherwise is disgraceful.

“I needed to go and check the same toilet that my daughter uses for its cleanliness.”

Mr Carroll also alleges a riot squad vehicle followed him to a McDonald’s carpark after the football match to intimidate him.

It is understood police are awaiting CCTV footage from the stadium to review the alleged interactions.

Football Federation Australia confirmed it has been in communication with both the fan and the NSW Police Commissioner’s Office.

“FFA will seek further discussion with stadium management and police to seek clarity around the level of response used to evict a single person.

“There are conflicting accounts and a potential misunderstanding of the circumstances that led to the eviction,” it said in a statement.

With AAP