Melbourne Victory have until Wednesday morning to respond to a show cause notice issued to the club as two more of the men allegedly involved in the shocking scenes that marred Saturday’s Melbourne derby turned themselves in to police .
In its presentation to Football Australia, the men’s A-League club will have to show why it should escape heavy penalties for the behavior of its fans, who stormed the AAMI Park pitch, leaving one player, the ‘match referee and a camera operator. injured, and causing the abandonment of the match.
The win could be hit with financial penalties, the loss of competition points and playing games behind closed doors or on neutral ground. Those involved face possible life bans from FA.
“The show cause notice has been issued after Football Australia reviewed all available images and footage of the match and received detailed incident and match reports from the match commissioner, match officials, management of AAMI Park and the Australian professional leagues, which describe the incidents that took place on Saturday night,” the FA said in a statement on Monday.
City goalkeeper Thomas Glover was left bloodied after being hit in the head by a metal bucket and required stitches to his face, while referee Alex King was also injured. Both were recovering on Monday after being shaken by the invasion, but their injuries were not thought to be serious.
“What we all witnessed on Saturday night can only be described as appalling and conduct that is not consistent with the values of Australian football or the expectations of our community,” James Johnson, chief executive of the Australian Football League, said on Monday. DOES.
A casket atmosphere erupted as Glover picked up a flare that landed on the pitch and tossed it back into the stands. But the City Council has yet to be issued with a show cause notice and police said on Sunday they were “not upset about anything at this stage when it comes to this”.
Glover, who was wearing a protective face suit as he returned to training on Monday, expressed dismay at Saturday night’s events, especially in light of the recent goodwill surrounding the sport.
“The incident is disappointing for Australian football itself,” Glover told the Nine Network. “The Socceroos were incredible and [we were] Hopefully the wave of this is needed, but a small minority ruins it.”
Inquiries are ongoing, but two of the nine men wanted turned themselves in to Victoria Police on Sunday. Two other men came forward Monday, one of whom allegedly threw the metal bucket that hit Glover in the head.
No arrests have been made at this time. The FA said on Monday it was working with Victoria Police and stadium security to identify individuals and ensure they were subject to banning proceedings and possible criminal charges.
Melbourne derby abandoned after mass pitch invasion and goalkeeper attack: video
The governing body is also working to regulate the result of the match, which was suspended in the 22nd minute with City leading 1-0.
“Our soccer stadiums must be safe places for our community to enjoy the game they love and for our players and match officials to ply their trade,” Johnson said.
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“Football Australia had a responsibility to intervene as soon as the match was called off to ensure this matter was dealt with with all the regulatory and disciplinary powers at our disposal.
“The offenders who entered the pitch on Saturday night, causing havoc and assaulting a player, an official and a cameraman have no place in our game. They are not welcome, and we will do everything possible to identify them and impose the penalties they deserve.
“As we made clear on Saturday evening following the abandonment of the match, we will act swiftly to properly investigate this matter and, where appropriate, issue the strongest possible sanctions against the club and those involved.
“The show cause notice following our initial investigations is the next step in the process and will allow us to gather more crucial information before making our determination.”
The ugly scenes on Saturday night dampened optimism surrounding the game, which came on the back of the Socceroos’ World Cup success and with a Women’s World Cup to be played on home soil next year.
The pitch invasion has even raised existential questions about the future of the game in Australia, but Western United manager John Aloisi said on Sunday now was the time for those who love the game to stick together.
“Of course it hurt,” said the former Socceroos forward. “I felt bad watching it, I really did, but we’re not going to let that get to us. I’ve read a lot of people saying this is the end of the A-Leagues and Australian football is taking another step backwards, but we have to come together and be stronger.
“We need to make sure that the minority and the idiots who caused this problem last night stay away.”