Football commentators and fans have been left disgusted, disheartened and embarrassed by the horrifying Melbourne Derby fan pitch invasion, declaring it a significant blow to the game’s reputation in Australia.
So soon after Australian soccer was riding unprecedented highs following the incredible World Cup campaign from the Socceroos, it sadly returned to the ‘bad old days’ on Saturday night, plunging to new lows of fan violence after a pitch invasion left Melbourne City keeper Thomas Glover with a gash on his cheek.
Fans from both clubs hurled flares onto the pitch, but when Glover threw two flares back into the Victory fans area at the northern end, it sparked a wild reaction as scores of Victory fans stormed the pitch, and encircled Glover in scary scenes.
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Then one Victory fan grabbed a metal bucket and threw it at Glover, instantly cutting the City custodian’s face wide open.
Fans from both clubs had mooted that they would walk out of the stadium at the 20th minute in protest of the APL decision to give the A-League grand final to Sydney for the next three years. But nobody could have anticipated the disgraceful scenes that occurred.
“Football in this country runs the full gamut of emotions but I’ve never felt as embarrassed and as empty as I feel right now,” former A-League keeper Clint Bolton wrote on Twitter.
Australian football legend Robbie Slater added: “I can’t believe what has happened! Not the way to protest! Very sad that it has come to this!”
Former player turned commentator Andy Harper was left shattered after the incident, struggling to comprehend what he’d just witnessed.
Fan footage of Melbourne Derby invasion | 01:03
“I think there‘s a lot of football fans around Australia who feel like they’ve had their heart ripped out tonight by a group of anarchistic thugs, who’ve proceeded to assault footballers and officials who were trying to celebrate the joy of football to the gathered group watching,” a heartbroken Harper told Paramount +.
“It’s just horrible. Disgusting. Uncalled for. That‘s about all I got.”
Livid commentators and fans voiced their disgust on social media, led by long-time broadcaster Simon Hill, who said he was “very sad and angry”.
“And our fall from grace is complete. Like the World Cup never happened,” Hill wrote on Twitter.
