The match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City for the A-League, football league in Australia, had to be ended in the first half after fans invaded the field of Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (Estádio AAMI Park). Footage from the official broadcast shows that goalkeeper Tom Glover was hit in the face with an object and, according to Melbourne City, “probably had a concussion”.
The classic between the Melbourne teams, named “MelbDerby”, was valid for the 8th round of the Australian league and put City face to face against the 8th placed Victory. Melbourne City, the club that won the game 1-0, updated, through social networks, the progress of the match: It announced that, first, the game was suspended and then cancelled. Their goalkeeper, Tom Glover, underwent medical treatment and, according to the club, may have had a concussion.
Football Australia, the governing body of football in the country, defined as “shocking scenes” the episode experienced in the arena “where supporters of Melbourne Victory FC entered the field of play”. Therefore, the referees left the field “to protect the integrity of the match”. Furthermore, it repudiated and promised sanctions: “Such behavior has no place in Australian rules football, with a full investigation by Football Australia to commence immediately, where strong sanctions will be imposed.”
Melbourne City said they respect the positions of the country’s football governing bodies and “will make a further statement in due course”. Melbourne Victory “unequivocally condemned the actions of the fans” in Saturday’s match.
