Police have identified 20 people and charged 13 over the violent A-League pitch invasion at the Melbourne derby on Saturday night, but continue to release images of people they believe can assist with their enquiries, including a man who threw a trolley.
Operation Astute charged 10 more people overnight to bring the total to 13 as fresh images and footage were released on Wednesday morning of the group that stormed the pitch when Melbourne Victory played Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday.
One of the men police want to speak to was photographed throwing a trolley at the Melbourne derby on Saturday.Credit:Victoria Police
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said on Wednesday morning that the governing body was preparing to give life bans to up to 10 more people after handing out two on Tuesday.
The governing body had given Melbourne Victory until 9am Wednesday to show they should not face serious sanctions over the crowd behaviour and confirmed it had received Victory’s submission in a statement released on Wednesday morning.
“Football Australia understands the importance of swift action; however, it will take whatever time is necessary to work through this submission before determining what sanctions will be imposed upon the club. No timeframe has been put on this process,” it said.
Victory next play on Boxing Day night, in an away game at AAMI Park against Western United.
A man police wish to speak to after a violent pitch invasion at the weekend.Credit:Victoria Police
“Football Australia is also assessing what measures may need to be implemented, and will be working with the Australian Professional Leagues, Melbourne Victory FC, Western United FC, and the operators of AAMI Park as to how they plan to ensure the safety of all fans, players, officials, and staff at the scheduled A-League Men’s Boxing Day match,” the statement said.
In the images released by police, one man can be seen throwing a hand trolley on the pitch, while another threw buckets and other debris onto the field.
Those charged include four people who were allegedly behind serious assaults on the field and one who threw a flare at a cameraman.
One of the men police wish to speak to over the violence at the derby.Credit:Victoria Police
Among the charges announced on Wednesday were:
- A 26-year-old Northcote man charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, riotous behaviour and discharging a flare.
- A 23-year-old Wollert man charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, entry to sporting competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 28-year-old Albion man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 26-year-old St Albans man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 27-year-old Cairnlea man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- An 18-year-old Diggers Rest man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 26-year-old Ringwood East man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 26-year-old Sunbury man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
A 17-year-old Reservoir male has been charged on summons with reckless conduct endangering serious injury and discharge a lit distress signal in relation to the cameraman who was allegedly hit with a flare.
A 22-year-old Pascoe Vale man is expected to be charged on summons with discharging a lit distress signal.
All those charged have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 27, while the remaining people will be charged on summons.
Police said about 150 fans ran onto the pitch and four men were injured – Glover, a Network 10 camera operator and two security guards – while bottles and other objects were thrown at public order response police as they tried to force the fans off the pitch. Approximately $150,000 in damage was caused. Referee Alex King, who was standing next to Glover at the time of the pitch invasion, also suffered a minor injury.
Photo a police have released of a man they wish to speak to. Credit:Victoria Police
Police also said more than 80 flares and fireworks were released by fans at both ends of the ground with about 53 from the northern end (Victory supporters) and 19 from the southern end (Melbourne City supporters).
Johnson told ABC News Breakfast Victory could expect “various sanctions”.
“The balaclavas and the flares that were brought into the stadium are unacceptable,” Johnson told ABC.
“And part of the sanctioning process that we’re going through, if we talk about objectives, is to deter this kind of behaviour. It’s to call it out. And to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
“That’s why we’ve acted swiftly. And that’s why we’ve issued two life bans overnight. We’ll issue further bans to individuals today, up to 10 individuals, and we’ll also look at various sanctions that can be applied to Melbourne Victory, who we’ll also be looking to hold to account.”
Victory veteran Leigh Broxham, who has played more than 300 games for the club, issued a statement on behalf of the players on Tuesday night pledging to restore the good name of the club and the game in Australia.
“What we witnessed has no place in football but, equally, is not representative of the majority of our fans who are made up of kids, families, grandparents and everything in between,” the players said.
“Although we are all hurt, it is now time to come together and lead the game forward.
“As a playing group, we want to restore the faith in what Melbourne Victory and football in this country stands for.
“We hope that you, the fans, will come together and do the same.”
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