On Saturday, Australian soccer fans stormed the pitch and attacked one of the goalkeepers, leading the game to be canceled.
A fan threw a bucket filled with a white liquid towards Tom Glover, the goalkeeper for Melbourne City, during the team’s match against Melbourne Victory, as captured on social media. According to a story, Glover was brought off the field confused and bleeding, and officials believed he may have suffered a concussion.
Fans stormed onto the soccer field at AAMI Stadium in Melbourne after 20 minutes with City leading 1-0.
“Following shocking scenes during the first half of the A-League men’s match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City… in which fans from the Melbourne Victory FC end entered the field of play, Football Australia match officials have abandoned the match… to protect the integrity of the match,” Football Australia said in a statement.
As spectators went out of control, the game was called off.
“Such conduct has no place in Australian football, and a complete Football Australia inquiry will begin immediately,” and “severe punishments will be imposed.”
Fans planned to leave the stadium after 20 minutes to protest the Australia Professional Leagues’ recent decision to assign hosting obligations for the next three championship matches to Sydney as part of a contract with the New South Wales state government.
As the contest began, both sets of spectators were chanting and throwing flares onto the field.
According to reports, Glover was struck with a metal bucket during the melee. Also hurt was the match’s referee.
»Australian soccer match spectators swarm the field and attack the goalkeeper«