It was an ugly day for Australian soccer as one of the top derbies had to be abandoned due to fans storming the pitch and attacking a goalkeeper.
The A-League Melbourne derby between Melbourne City FC and Melbourne Victory FC was more tense than usual before the start. Both fanbases were upset that the Australian Professional Leagues recently announced that the next three Grand Final championship matches would go to Sydney instead of at the home of the highest-seeded club.
Fans were considering protesting by walking out of the stadium, but instead, both fanbases threw flares/smoke canisters onto the pitch. After goalkeeper Thomas Glover threw a flare back into the away supporter stands, Victory fans stormed the pitch, with one attacking Glover with a metal bin, hitting Glover in the head and leaving a gash on his cheek. The match was soon abandoned.
Disgusting scenes in Australia’s A-League 😡 pic.twitter.com/K9LKDXP58U
— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) December 17, 2022
Meanwhile, in Australia… know little of the history here but goalie has guts. He didn’t move even as irate fans jumped the fence. pic.twitter.com/Vf5ZYCOrN7
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) December 17, 2022
This is very much an unfortunate black eye on the state of Australian soccer, just soon after the Australia national team reached the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup.
And our fall from grace is complete. Like the World Cup never happened. Very sad & angry.
— simonhill1894 (@simonhill1894) December 17, 2022
“And our fall from grace is complete. Like the World Cup never happened. Very sad & angry.” –@simonhill1894
Australia was eliminated in the round of 16 and the sport is shot before the final.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) December 17, 2022
“Australia was eliminated in the round of 16 and the sport is shot before the final.” –@DanielCherny
Our game is in tatters. An absolute disgrace what happened tonight. Cannot believe we are here after such an amazing WC and so much potential to see our game grow. Irreparable damage done. Darkest day for football in Australia.
— Danny Vukovic (@vuka20) December 17, 2022
“Our game is in tatters. An absolute disgrace what happened tonight. Cannot believe we are here after such an amazing WC and so much potential to see our game grow. Irreparable damage done. Darkest day for football in Australia.” -Central Coast Mariners FC goalkeeper Danny Vukovic –@vuka20
https://twitter.com/SaintFrankly/status/1604041829380259841
“Football in Australia is self destructing on national television. It’s beyond infuriating. Just disgusting and unforgivable. We don’t deserve the game we love if this is how disrespectful and despicable we are as fans.” –@SaintFrankly
Disgraceful scenes. Australia was being celebrated for the guts and heart our boys showed at the World Cup… instead, now these scenes will go around the world. Shameful. There is no excuse for this. None.
The love of the game should never lead to violence. Ever. https://t.co/Ja1vtDd1F0
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) December 17, 2022
“Disgraceful scenes. Australia was being celebrated for the guts and heart our boys showed at the World Cup… instead, now these scenes will go around the world. Shameful. There is no excuse for this. None. The love of the game should never lead to violence. Ever.” –@Neroli_Meadows
What a dark, dark time this is for the game in Australia. Everything that happened tonight has typified where we're at as a game – lost, disillusioned, fractured and without hope. For shame.
— Lucy Zelić (@LucyZelic) December 17, 2022
“What a dark, dark time this is for the game in Australia. Everything that happened tonight has typified where we’re at as a game – lost, disillusioned, fractured and without hope. For shame.” –@LucyZelic
Nobody looks good in any of this. The fans shouldn’t have thrown the flares onto the pitch in the first place, while the goalkeeper shouldn’t have escalated the situation and thrown one back into the crowd. And then, on top of that, the fans shouldn’t have attacked the keeper for doing that. I’ll give those fans the benefit of the doubt for going onto the pitch at first. I have never got the appeal, but as someone who has been in the stands when smoke is released, sometimes it gets a bit suffocating, and your focus is getting out of there. That being said, there’s a difference between invading the pitch to avoid inhaling smoke and invading the pitch to attack someone, and many chose the latter.
