The A-League Men’s Melbourne derby descended into chaos after fans invaded the pitch amid ugly scenes at AAMI Park that left City goalkeeper Tom Glover bloodied and the game abandoned for player safety reasons.
League leaders City took the lead through Aiden O’Neill’s 11th-minute goal when trouble broke out in the 22nd minute of the game. Both groups of fans had been throwing flares onto the pitch, but the situation escalated when one flare appeared to hit a Channel 10 cameraman, then exploded when Glover picked up another from the ground and threw it throw back into the stands.
As fans flooded the pitch, a metal bucket used to throw flares was thrown in Glover’s direction, striking him in the face and drawing blood. The match referee, who was left covered in gunpowder from the bucket, had no choice but to remove the players from the pitch and suspend the game, before it was later abandoned.
It comes after a day of protests in the Men’s A-League competition, as fans made their feelings known about the Australian Professional Leagues’ controversial decision to sell the rights to host the grand final in Sydney over the next three years.
There had been a tense atmosphere during the start of the game, with both sets of active fans planning to walk out of the game after 20 minutes. Both sets of fans started chanting “fuck the APL” immediately after the previous A-League Women’s match finished. Victory and City fans unfurled banners before the match and as the half unfolded, referencing their displeasure with the APL.
Victory fans set off small fireworks and then flares, while their goalkeeper Paul Izzo had to help clear flares thrown by City fans.
At Gosford Stadium, Central Coast Mariners fans headed for the exit 20 minutes into their match against Sydney FC and held a banner calling for the resignation of APL chief executive Danny Townsend.
Protesters hold a banner in the 20th minute as fans leave the stadium during the Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC match. Photo: Jeremy Ng/AAP
At Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium, Jets fans also left the ground midway through the first half of their match against Brisbane Roar, with fans unfurling a banner reading “fans>$$”.