Melbourne City’s A-League Men match with Melbourne Victory has been abandoned due to a pitch invasion.
The 20th-minute incident, where Melbourne Victory fans spilled onto the AAMI Park field of play, saw Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover struck by a fan, while referee Alex King found himself engulfed by fans.
Prior to the match, both sets of active fans had threatened to walk out to voice their protest at an announcement to move the next three A-Leagues Grand Finals to Sydney.
But the unprecedented scenes, which threatened the safety of players, officials and staff, saw play abandoned and players rushed up the tunnel.
“The Isuzu UTE A-League Men fixture between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park has been abandoned as a result of the pitch invasion by Melbourne Victory fans, and the subsequent injuries to Melbourne City FC goalkeeper Tom Glover and the match official Alex King,” the Australian Professional League said in a statement.
“The Australian Professional League (APL) is coordinating with Football Australia (FA) regarding the ramifications of these events.
“A further statement will follow.”
In a statement, Football Australia said: “Following shocking scenes during the first half of the of the A-League Men’s match between Melbourne Victory FC and Melbourne City FC at AAMI Park on Saturday 17 December, where fans from the Melbourne Victory FC end entered the field of play, Football Australia match officials have abandoned the match in accordance with Law 5.3 of the Laws of the Game in order to protect the integrity of the match.
“Such behaviour has no place in Australian Football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions will be handed down.”
