ustralia’s Melbourne soccer derby was deserted amid horrific scenes on Saturday as a fan protest turned violent, resulting in Melbourne Metropolis goalkeeper Tom Glover being injured.
Spectators stormed onto the taking part in floor amid absolute chaos in the course of the A-League contest between Melbourne Metropolis and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park, with video footage exhibiting former Tottenham ‘keeper Glover being struck by a metal bucket hurled dangerously by a pitch-invading supporter.
Glover was left with a cut and bloodied face, with his club tweeting that the player had likely sustained a concussion and was receiving further treatment to the wound in the dressing room.
Glover had stitches and was later taken to hospital for scans and follow-up checks.
The bucket – used for disposing of flares – also appeared to strike referee Alex King, who was left covered in ash as he immediately suspended the game. The decision was then quickly taken to abandon it completely in the interests of player safety with police and security services required to restore order after a disgraceful episode in troubled times for Australian football.
Further video footage then emerged that seemed to show Glover throwing a flare that had been lobbed in his direction by fans behind the goal back into the Victory section of the crowd, from where the pitch invasion then came.
Flares had been thrown onto the pitch by both sets of fans throughout the evening, with one hitting a television cameraman.
Football Australia have now pledged to conduct a full investigation with strong punishments promised for those involved in Saturday’s disturbing scenes.
“Such behaviour has no place in Australian Football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions will be handed down,” they stated in a press release.
Melbourne Victory followers invaded the pitch in the course of the A-League derby at AAMI Park
/ APIn their very own assertion, Melbourne Victory stated they have been “devastated” by the scenes that had no place in soccer as in addition they pledged a full investigation and apologised to these affected together with Glover.
“Tonight, Melbourne Victory Football Club is devastated. The Club unequivocally condemns the actions of fans at Saturday night’s match against Melbourne City at AAMI Park,” the membership stated.
“The actions that occurred, that saw spectators enter the pitch and injure a Melbourne City FC player, an official and a Network Ten cameraman, are not acceptable under any circumstance and have no place in football. The security and welfare of everyone involved in a football match is paramount and the Club will not accept this behaviour.
“The Club would like to formally apologise to Tom Glover, match official, Alex King and the camera operator as well as all players, officials and those who witnessed the appalling behaviour.
“This conduct will not be tolerated and the Club, along with AAMI Park and Victoria Police, will undertake a full investigation into the incident.
“Melbourne Victory would like to reiterate there is no place in football for what was witnessed tonight.”
A-League leaders Melbourne Metropolis had been main a highly-charged derby 1-0 on the time of the incident after Aiden O’Neill’s terrific early strike.
Police have been wanted to revive order on an terrible evening for Australian soccer
/ Getty PhotographsTensions had been working excessive all week forward of the sport, with followers from each side having deliberate to stroll out within the twentieth minute to protest towards the administration of the A-League by the Australian Skilled Leagues (APL), notably the latest controversial resolution to promote each the boys’s and girls’s grand finals to Sydney in a deal price a reported $12million.
The finals are usually performed on the highest-placed groups’ dwelling grounds.
Followers chanted “F**k the APL” all through the sport on Saturday evening and directed their mounting anger at APL chief govt Danny Townsend, with protest banners seen in a number of areas of the bottom that carried messages akin to “When money talks, fans will walk”, “APL knows the demands, football for the fans” and “APL out”.
After the match was deserted, the APL stated: “The Australian Professional League (APL) is coordinating with Football Australia (FA) regarding the ramifications of these events.”
