Football Australia bans Melbourne Victory supporters for life after a pitch invasion. Football Australia has issued life bans to two Melbourne Victory supporters who participated in the AAMI Park field invasion that injured Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover.
On Saturday, as supporters flooded the field at the Melbourne Victory End, Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover received a concussion after being struck in the face by a metal bucket, and referee Alex King also took a blow to the head.
A-League signed a deal to sell the men’s and women’s title-deciding Grand Finals in Sydney until 2025, prompting a significant fan outrage. Days later, the pitch invasion occurred. Prior to this, the teams that finished first and second received hosting rights for the Grand Final.
A 19-year-old man from Meadow Heights, Victoria, and a 23-year-old man from Craigieburn, Victoria, were both given lifetime bans from all football-related activities by Football Australia in collaboration with Victoria Police.
The A-League Maine Derby had to be abandoned due to the violence on Saturday night.
Glover was allegedly struck with a bucket by a pitch attacker, causing injuries and facial lacerations. In the event, referee Alex King also suffered injuries.
The fire also injured two security personnel in addition to a television cameraman.
A 23-year-old man “entered the field of play without authorization… with purpose to inflict damage or loss,” the FA stated on Tuesday.
The FA found that a 19-year-old male had “engaged in behavior likely to hurt or endanger others” and had “entered the field of play without authorization.” Life bans were imposed on both men.
These people and their behavior will never be accepted in our game, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said in a statement. The actions of both these and others who are in our best interest are utterly unacceptable. In the days to come, he said, there would be more limitations.
At sanctioned events, football has a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive, destructive, violent, and antisocial behavior. Behavior endangering the safety or security of spectators, players, or officials will not be tolerated.
These severe penalties imposed on these people are consistent with this viewpoint. To ensure the events at Melbourne’s AAMI Park never occur again, Football Australia is working around the clock on this inquiry.
The two have been prohibited from taking part in any games that Football Australia sponsors, including those for the A-League, Australia Cup, NPL, Socceroos, and Matildas. They are no longer even allowed to sign up as football players.
He faces charges for violent disorder, firing a missile with intent to harm, recklessly inflicting harm, unlawful assault, entering a sporting event, obstructing a game, public annoyance, and riotous behavior.
Melbourne Victory has until Wednesday morning to convince the FA that they shouldn’t be subject to harsh punishment for defaming the game. The FA has made it clear that harsher penalties would be applied. Options include penalising Victory with lost points, imposing penalties, and making them play in secret.
The score from Saturday’s derby will also be decided by the sport’s regulatory body. Prior to the game being called off, City had a 1-0 lead. The proximity of Victory’s upcoming match against Western United at AAMI Park on Boxing Day may prompt the FA to issue an immediate temporary ban.
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