Football Australia is set to dish out 10 life-time exclusions to Melbourne Victory fans involved in a violent derby pitch invasion, as the Isuzu UTE A-League club prepare to receive a likely points deduction, heavy fine and crowd bans.
Victory’s fate lies in the hands of FA after the club submitted their response to the governing body’s show cause notice.
READ MORE: FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA HANDS LIFE BANS TO MELBOURNE DERBY PITCH INVADERS
The club had to show why they “should not face serious sanctions for bringing the game into disrepute” after about 150 active fans stormed the AAMI Park pitch on Saturday night, forcing the abandonment of their A-League Men match against rivals Melbourne City.
FA said while “swift action” was important, there was no time frame on imposing sanctions on Victory.
On Tuesday, two fans, including one who allegedly hit City goalkeeper Tom Glover with a metal bucket, received life bans from attending and participating in all levels of football.
Victoria Police have charged 13 people over the pitch invasion while an additional 18 individuals have been identified following public appeals, with more charges expected to be laid.
FA chief executive James Johnson flagged more bans were on the way on Wednesday.
“We’ll be issuing more sanctions later today to individuals and we do have a show cause process we’re working through with Melbourne Victory to ensure that we ring fence this issue for the two million people that love the game,” Johnson told ABC News Breakfast.
“The balaclavas and the flares that were brought into the stadium is unacceptable, and part of the sanctioning process that we’re going through, if we talk about objectives, is to deter this kind of behaviour.
“It’s to call it out and to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
“We’ll issue further bans to individuals today, up to 10 individuals, and we’ll also look at various sanctions that can be applied to Melbourne Victory.”
Referee Alex King suffered a head gash in the bucket incident, a television cameraman was hurt after being struck by a flare and two security guards were also injured.
The four men allegedly responsible for the most serious on-field assaults have either been charged or identified by police.
The person who allegedly threw a flare at the cameraman has been charged on summons.
Damage valued at $150,000 was caused to the venue and about 80 flares or fireworks were set off, according to police.
With Victory’s next game – away to Western United at AAMI Park – scheduled for Boxing Day, FA may hand out interim sanctions in the short-term.
FA said it would work with the Australian Professional Leagues, Victory, Western and AAMI Park’s operators to “ensure the safety of all fans, players, officials, and staff at the scheduled A-League Men’s Boxing Day match”.
FA also need to decide whether the result of Saturday’s derby will stand.
City were leading 1-0 before the match was abandoned.
