Melbourne Victory hit with RECORD penalty for pitch invasion disgrace that saw goalie seriously hurt – as powerhouse club will have 10-point deduction hanging over its head for four years
- A-League club slugged a total of $550,000 – with $450,000 of that in fines
- No seats will be allocated for their fans at away games for rest of season
- Football Australia took action after pitch invasion on December 17
A-League powerhouse Melbourne Victory have been hit with a record financial penalty and a range of other harsh measures by Football Australia after their supporters shocked the sport by invading the pitch during a match last month.
On Tuesday the governing body announced the club will be hit with financial penalties totalling $550,000 – with $450,000 of that consisting of fines and the remainder being lost revenue.
In addition, no seating will be allocated for their fans at away games for the rest of the 2022-23 regular season and finals series.
Melbourne City goalie Tom Glover had to be escorted off the field after he was attacked with a metal bin during the shameful scenes on December 17
Victory fans (seen during the pitch invasion) have now been barred from attending away games for the rest of the 2022-23 A-League season
The team must also block their fans from sitting behind the goals at the north end of their AAMI Park home ground for the rest of the current campaign.
Victory will have a suspended 10-point deduction hanging over their heads for the next three seasons, ready to be triggered any time their supporters misbehave.
The remainder of the round eight match against Melbourne City that had to be abandoned after 22 minutes due to the shocking scenes will have to be replayed in April this year.
Angry Victory supporters burst past the security presence and crashed through barriers to reach the pitch, causing the game to be called off
A-League fans had been protesting the decision to move the grand final to Sydney for financial reasons with banners and flares at the match
The penalties come after supporters stormed the pitch after 20 minutes of play during the A-League Melbourne derby at AAMI Park on December 17.
Crowds had been protesting the Australian Professional Leagues decision to sell the A-League grand final for the next three years – starting this season.
While other games saw passive protests including walkouts, the crowd erupted at AAMI park, breaking down barriers, hurling water bottles and flares and attacking officials and even players.
The blacked out section at the northern end of AAMI Park where Victory fans are now forbidden to sit in a bid to prevent further violence
There has been a strong police presence at Victory games since December 17 to ensure fans are on their best behaviour
Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover was left bloodied and concussed after he was struck in the head with a bucket of sand, allegedly in retaliation to the custodian tossing a lit flare back into the crowd.
Acting Victorian Police superintendent Jason Goddard condemned the ‘shocking, disgraceful and and un-Australian’ behaviour and several members of the crowd have been questioned by police with penalties and lengthy bans from games expected to be handed out.
‘What we saw … from those who chose to invade the pitch was shocking, disgraceful and lacked total respect for the game of football,’ Supt Goddard said.
MORE TO COME…
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