Soccer

Melbourne A-League derby abandoned after chaotic pitch invasion

Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover was left bloodied after being hit by metal bucket

A bleeding Tom Glover of Melbourne City is escorted from the pitch by team-mates after fans stormed the pitch during the A-League match between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in Melbourne. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Sat Dec 17 2022 - 11:56

The A-League derby between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory was abandoned amid chaotic scenes after a pitch invasion on Saturday in which City goalkeeper Tom Glover was left bloodied after he was struck in the face.

Glover was hit by a metal bucket as fans from the Victory end stormed on to the pitch after the 20-minute mark of the game with City up 1-0 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

The goalkeeper was escorted off the pitch with blood streaming down the side of his face and referee Alex King found himself surrounded by fans, who had threatened to protest a move to shift the next three A-Leagues Grand Finals to Sydney.

Football Australia said in a statement: “Such behaviour has no place in Australian Football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions will be handed down.”

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Glover was reportedly targeted after throwing a flare that landed on the pitch back into the crowd. His team later said he suffered a suspected concussion in the incident.

A flare also appeared to hit a Network 10 cameraman covering the match.

Players and officials left the pitch and the match was abandoned as police were called to control the crowd.

“The Australian Professional League is co-ordinating with Football Australia regarding the ramifications of these events,” the APL said in a statement.

Australia’s top-flight soccer competitions have sold their title-deciding Grand Finals to Sydney until 2025 in a deal condemned by fans.

Both sets of Melbourne fans had originally planned to leave the game at the 20-minute mark to protest the move.

The A-League men and women’s competitions have traditionally played their championship deciders at the highest-placed teams’ home grounds.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022