Melbourne Victory has been banned from selling tickets to their upcoming home games, the club must close off and cover over its active supporters’ section and Victory fans will also be banned from away games until January 15.
However, valid Victory members can continue to attend home games as they have already paid for their entry and the club knows their identities. Refunds will be issued for non-members. Victory will need to pay back any fees from ticket sellers. Football Australia said these were just the “immediate” penalties, and it reserved the right to further punish the club as its investigation continues.
The severe punishment of the club’s fans comes in the wake of last Saturday’s violent pitch invasion, which has now seen 36 people identified taking part, 29 arrested and 24 charged with various offences by Police from Operation Astute.
FA said it was continuing the “show cause” process and information was still coming in from the clubs and Victoria Police about last weekend’s incident at the derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.
But FA said it needed to implement some early sanctions due to the club playing games in the coming weeks, including the match against Western United on Boxing Day.
“Football Australia does not wish to penalise football fans during this time; however, our priority is to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone within the venue on match days and that any unacceptable behaviour by spectators is not repeated at any football match or event ever again.
“We believe these measures will achieve this,” Football Australia James Johnson said in a statement.
Police charged another man on Friday over last Saturday’s invasion at AAMI Park.
A 25-year-old South Morang man has been charged with two alleged assaults – one of a security guard and the other of a Melbourne City player.
The latest charges do not relate to the assault of Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover, who suffered a gash to his head and concussion after a bucket of sand was allegedly thrown at him.
Victoria Police have released new images of the people they are hoping to identify as part of the AAMI Park pitch invasion investigation.Credit:Police Media
Football Australia has banned more than 10 people from all forms of the sport for a range of periods stretching from five years to life, and expects more people will be banned as police identify them.
Police on Friday released 17 more images of people investigators would like to speak to after the pitch invasion.
Keen-eyed Victory fans noted on Friday that tickets for home games against Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and Melbourne City at AAMI Park were no longer available for sale.
Fans also noted that specific tickets for the active section behind the goals were gone for all home games.
It comes as police warn there will be a “highly visible” police presence at Melbourne Victory’s match against Western United at AAMI Park on Monday. Western United is the home team for the Boxing Day evening game which is why fans will be allowed to attend.
“Police were appalled by last weekend’s pitch invasion and have laid a number of charges on those involved in the incident for violent disorder, criminal damage and assault,” police said.
“This should send a very clear message that police will not tolerate this kind of behaviour at sporting matches.
Victoria Police have released new images of the people they are hoping to identify as part of the AAMI Park pitch invasion investigation.Credit:Police Media
“We will once again be closely monitoring the behaviour of individuals and we will not hesitate to take swift action against any anti-social or criminal behaviour.”
Police also released a breakdown of the people arrested over the pitch invasion so far:
- A 28-year-old from Albert Park was arrested on Friday and is expected to be charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.
- A 25-year-old man from South Morang was charged in relation to two alleged assaults on a security guard and a Melbourne City player (not Tom Glover) on the field. He has been charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 19-year-old man from Preston has been charged in relation to an alleged assault on a security guard and throwing a bucket into the field of play. He has been charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 21-year-old man from Sunbury has been charged with violent disorder, throwing a lit distress signal, possession of a lit distress signal, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 19-year-old man from Sunshine West has been charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 19-year-old man from Sunbury has been charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 18-year-old man from Lilydale has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 23-year-old man from Dingley Village has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.
- A 15-year-old boy from Eltham and a 15-year-old boy from Macleod have been issued with infringement notices for allegedly entering the field of play, while a 23-year-old man from Moonee Ponds has been issued with infringement notices for possession of an unlit distress signal.
- A 30-year-old man from Spotswood has been interviewed by police for allegedly invading the pitch and released pending further enquiries.
Four people have been charged and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 1:
- A 22-year-old man from Croydon has been charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 19-year-old man from Coburg has been charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
- A 36-year-old man from Dingley Village has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.
- A 38-year-old man from Dingley Village has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.
Victorian Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos said he was confident the men’s game between Western United and Melbourne Victory would go ahead safely on Boxing Day.
“Absolutely. I expect it to go ahead,” he said.
“We have one of the best cohorts of experienced people running our venues, including AAMI Park. The security arrangements are all in place.”
Dimopoulos also said A-League games had to be safe for all participants.
“What I’ve made clear in my conversations – I’ve spoken to Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, Football Australia, APL and the AAMI Park management team – that my expectations and the government’s expectations [are] that this is a sport that is family-friendly, enjoyable and safe,” Dimopoulos said.
“I just hope that translates right through to their membership base.”
The A-League announced on Friday it had changed the start times of three matches and postponed another due to forecasts of extreme heat on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The men’s match between Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park on Tuesday will now start at 5.30pm AEDT, while the women’s match between Melbourne City and Perth Glory will kick-off afterwards at 8.15pm AEDT.
Victoria Police have released new images of the people they are hoping to identify as part of the AAMI Park pitch invasion investigation.Credit:Police Media
Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix’s match in the men’s competition in Adelaide on Tuesday will start at 8.15pm AEDT.
The women’s match between Western United and Newcastle Jets in Melbourne on Wednesday has been postponed, with a new date to be decided.
Victoria Police have released new images of the people they are hoping to identify as part of the AAMI Park pitch invasion investigation.Credit:Police Media
