Ticket sales suspended to Melbourne Victory’s Boxing Day match, more charged over pitch invasion

Ticket sales have been suspended for the Boxing Day clash between Melbourne Victory and Western United and some future home games, with police charging another man over last Saturday’s violent pitch invasion.

Police from Operation Astute have now identified 36 people who took part in the pitch invasion during last weekend’s hostile local derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City at AAMI Park with 29 arrested and 24 charged with various offences.

A 25-year-old South Morang man has been charged with two alleged assaults, one of a security guard and the other of a Melbourne City player.

The latest charges do not relate to the assault of Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover, who suffered a gash to his head and concussion after a bucket of sand was allegedly thrown at him.

Football Australia has banned more than 10 people from all forms of the sport for a range of periods stretching from five years to life and expects more people will be banned as police identify them.

The organisation’s heavy sanctions for the club were expected to be announced before Christmas, with several games due to be played behind closed doors.

Police have released 17 more images of people investigators would like to speak to after last Saturday’s pitch invasion.

Keen-eyed Victory fans noted on Friday that tickets for home games against Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and Melbourne City at AAMI Park were no longer available for sale. However, the link for the home game against Wellington Phoenix on February 3 was still accessible.

Fans also noted that specific tickets for the active section behind the goals were gone for all home games.

It comes as police warn there will be a “highly visible” police presence at Melbourne Victory’s match against Western United at AAMI Park on Monday. Western United is the home team for the Boxing Day evening game which is why fans will be allowed to attend.

“Police were appalled by last weekend’s pitch invasion and have laid a number of charges on those involved in the incident for violent disorder, criminal damage and assault,” police said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

“This should send a very clear message that police will not tolerate this kind of behaviour at sporting matches.

“We will once again be closely monitoring the behaviour of individuals and we will not hesitate to take swift action against any anti-social or criminal behaviour.”

Police also released a breakdown of the people arrested over the pitch invasion so far:

• A 28-year-old from Albert Park was arrested on Friday and was expected to be charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.
• A 25-year-old man from South Morang charged in relation to two alleged assaults on a security guard and a Melbourne City player (not Tom Glover) on the field. He has been charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
• A 19-year-old man from Preston charged in relation to an alleged assault on a security guard and throwing a bucket into the field of play. He has been charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
• A 21-year-old man from Sunbury has been charged with violent disorder, throwing a lit distress signal, possession of a lit distress signal, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
• A 19-year-old man from Sunshine West charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
• A 19-year-old man from Sunbury charged with violent disorder, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
• A 18-year-old man from Lilydale has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
• A 23-year-old man from Dingley Village has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.
• A 15-year-old boy from Eltham and a 15-year-old boy from Macleod have been issued with infringement notices for allegedly entering the field of play, while a 23-year-old man from Moonee Ponds has been issued with infringement notices for possession of an unlit distress signal.
• A 30-year-old man from Spotswood has been interviewed by police for allegedly invading the pitch and released pending further enquiries.

Four people have been charged and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 1:

• A 22-year-old man from Croydon has been charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
• A 19-year-old man from Coburg has been charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
• A 36-year-old man from Dingley Village has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.
• A 38-year-old man from Dingley Village has been charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match and public nuisance.

Victorian Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos said he was confident the men’s game between Western United and Melbourne Victory would go ahead safely on Boxing Day.

“Absolutely. I expect it to go ahead,” he said.

“We have one of the best cohorts of experienced people running our venues, including AAMI Park. The security arrangements are all in place.”

Dimopoulos also said A-League games had to be safe for all participants.

“What I’ve made clear in my conversations – I’ve spoken to Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, Football Australia, APL and the AAMI Park management team – that my expectations and the government’s expectations [are] that this is a sport that is family-friendly, enjoyable and safe,” Dimopoulos said.

“I just hope that translates right through to their membership base.”

The A-League announced on Friday it had changed the start times of three matches and postponed another due to forecasts of extreme heat on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The men’s match between Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park on Tuesday will now start at 5.30pm AEDT, while the women’s match between Melbourne City and Perth Glory will kick-off afterwards at 8.15pm AEDT.

Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix’s match in the men’s competition in Adelaide on Tuesday will start at 8.15pm AEDT.

The women’s match between Western United and Newcastle Jets in Melbourne on Wednesday has been postponed, with a new date to be decided.

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