Melbourne soccer match abandoned after goalkeeper attacked
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An A-League soccer match between rivals Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory was deserted Saturday after followers invaded the sector and attacked City goalkeeper Tom Glover.
Video on social media exhibits a fan throwing a metallic bucket with a white substance at Glover, who was taken off the sector dazed and bleeding. Team officers stated he had sustained a attainable concussion however there was no quick phrase on his situation.
Match referee Alex King was additionally injured, sustaining a head lower in the identical incident.
Fans from the Melbourne Victory space of the stadium rushed the pitch simply after the 20-minute mark of the sport at AAMI Stadium. City led 1-0 when the match was stopped.
“Following shocking scenes during the first half of the A-League men’s match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City … where fans from the Melbourne Victory FC end entered the field of play, Football Australia match officials have abandoned the match … in order to protect the integrity of the match,” a Football Australia assertion stated.
“Such behavior has no place in Australian football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately,” with “strong sanctions to be handed down.”
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There had been a tense environment to start out the match with each units of followers planning to depart the sport on the 20-minute mark as a part of a protest towards the Australian Professional Leagues, which had just lately awarded the following three grand remaining matches to Sydney in a take care of the New South Wales state authorities.
Both units of followers began derogatory chants instantly after the previous A-League Women’s sport completed. Victory and City followers additionally unfurled banners, referring to their displeasure with the APL and its determination on the championship matches.
Both units of followers had been throwing flares on the sector however the scenario escalated when a flare appeared to hit a tv cameraman. Glover later picked up one other flare off the bottom and threw it again into the stands.
Fans then rushed the pitch and Glover was struck by the metallic bucket, which is used to get rid of flares. Glover began bleeding from a head wound and was taken from the sector, together with gamers from each groups.
Former Australia goalkeeper Danny Vukovic stated on Twitter: “Our game is in tatters … an absolute disgrace what happened tonight. Irreparable damage done. Darkest day for football in Australia.”
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The incident got here two weeks after Australia superior to the spherical of 16 on the World Cup in Qatar earlier than shedding 2-1 to Argentina.
Veteran Australia soccer journalist Ray Gatt replied to a touch upon Twitter by saying: “As a football writer I covered Australian soccer for over 40 years and have seen many highs and crippling lows. This is the lowest of the lows. So very sad.”
