Victoria Police released a series of photos on Sunday, in an appeal to the public for assistance in identifying persons of interest following the pitch invasion during Saturday’s A-League derby at AAMI Park.
More than 150 hooligans ran onto the field shortly after 8pm after a number of lit flares were thrown onto the ground, with one being thrown back off the pitch in frustration by Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover.
Three people were injured during the incident, with Thomas Glover being struck in the head when a man threw a metal bucked filled with sand.
A cameraman was also struck in the back of the head with a flare, while referee Alex King was caught up in the chaos.
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Jason Goddard said in a press conference on Sunday, that a dedicated group of detectives are investigating the incidents; the investigation has been dubbed Operation Astute.
“Detectives from our North West Metro Regional Crime Squad are working hard, they’re reviewing video footage as we speak and they’re looking into establishing who may be involved. I have no doubt we’ll be knocking on a few doors soon,” Acting Superintendent Goddard told reporters.
“What we saw last night from those who chose to invade the pitch was shocking, disgraceful and lacked total respect for the game of football. I’m a lover of the game and I actually feel sad about what I saw play out on the pitch last night.”
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews voiced his condemnation of the events which took place at AAMI Park on Saturday via social media.
“Victorian’s are well known for our love of sport – and for enjoying it safely and respectfully”
“The disgraceful actions by some at last night’s A-League game have no place in our sporting community – and no place in our state,” he said.
The A-League released a statement yesterday evening condemning the anti-social behavior and pledging to ensure that events like Saturday’s never happen again.
“The events that unfolded at the Melbourne Derby last night, demonstrated that a small minority of people with criminal intent hide within our game,” it read.
“They neither understand nor love our game. What they do understand is how to use our game as a platform for their anti-social and illegal objectives.”
“Our Clubs will work deliberately and exhaustively, hand-in hand with law enforcement agencies, and with Football Australia – as the game’s regulator – to ensure that our game can never again be used as camouflage for criminals,” it concluded.
Football Australia (FA) CEO James Johnson also gave a statement on Sunday, opening up their own investigation into the incident.
“I’m horrified and angry with the scenes witnessed at AAMI Park last night. We have a case of some individuals – I will not refer to them as fans of football, only as individuals – who have confronted and attacked a player and a match official,” he said.
Johnson said that as an independent regulator, FA can look at the issue, the APL and the clubs involved in an objective manner.
He confirmed that both Tommy Glover and Alex King were recovering well from their injuries, but were shaken by the event.
“This pitch invasion – and I want to be clear – has nothing to do with the groundswell and the rising of our game,” he made clear.
“It has nothing to do with the 2 million people who love and support our game week-in, week-out. This is an element that goes beyond football and infiltrates our game and will really try to ruin it for those who love our sport, and it’s those people who we will be targeting in this investigation and will be weeded out of our sport.”
Anyone who witnessed the incidents, with information or phone vision is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
