A-League club hit with big fine over crowd violence
Melbourne Victory has been hit with a record $550,000 fine following a pitch invasion which led to a goalkeeper being assaulted and the abandonment of last month’s A-League derby with Melbourne City.
Melbourne Victory fans invade the pitch. Photo: AAP/Will Murray
Victorian police have charged more than 32 spectators and some have been handed lengthy or life bans from attending games after the incident on December 17.
About 150 spectators stormed AAMI Park after City goalkeeper Tom Glover threw a flare thrown onto the ground back into the crowd. He was taken to hospital with a head injury after being hit with a metal bucket, while a referee was also assaulted and a TV cameraman received burns from a flare.
The clubs will be ordered to resume the fixture – which City led 1-0 at the time of the abandonment – in April, with play beginning from the 22nd minute.
As part of an array of sanctions handed down by Football Australia, Victory have been handed a suspended 10-point deduction.
That deduction can be invoked at any time this season or over the following three campaigns, should there be more instances of fan violence.
Victory will not be allowed active fan concessions for the remainder of this season.
“Melbourne Victory has brought the game into disrepute,” Football Australia chief executive James Johnson told a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday.
“The images seen were the worst in the history of our game.”
-with AAP
