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The Australian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Australian
Melbourne streets turned red as A-League's fans set flares, taunt police
The streets of Melbourne have been turned red and yellow, with rowdy soccer fans setting of flares to a strong police presence amid the A-League decider. Incredible photos have captured the chaotic scenes, with soccer fans descending on AAMI park to watch the showdown between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC. No one has been accused of any wrongdoing. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Members of the Public Order Response Team with Victoria Police arrive outside a pub where hundreds of Melbourne Victory football fans gather ahead of the A-League final. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Crowds of fans bundled up in soccer scarfs appeared to be taunting officers, who turned out in big numbers ahead of the match. Some shouted anti-police chants, The Herald Sun reported. Past matches between the two teams have erupted in chaos, including in 2022 where about 150 spectators stormed the field. Goalkeeper Tom Glover was allegedly struck in the head with a metal bucket during the incident. Some were handed down life bans following the match. No one has been accused of any wrongdoing. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Police are out in force. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Victoria Police CBD acting commander Zorka Dunstan said some fans barred from attending Saturday night's big game following 'reckless' behaviour earlier in the year. 'The majority of supporters do the right thing and create an incredible environment for everyone in attendance, including families,' Mr Dunstan said in a statement ahead of the match. 'However, at times this year we have seen a very small group of supporters engage in reckless and anti-social behaviour. Police are set to maintain a strong presence throughout Saturday night. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele 'Due to their actions, some of these people are barred from attending this Saturday's big game. 'We don't want this small group to tarnish the event for the rest of the soccer community.' He said those in Richmond — particularly on Swan St — could expect a 'strong and dedicated police presence throughout the entire night'. 'There will be an unbelievable atmosphere on Saturday night as two traditional Melbourne rivals meet in the Grand Final for the first time,' Mr Dunstan said. 'The bumper crowd can expect to see plenty of police on the way to the game and at the ground itself.' Soccer fans allegedly lit flares under a Swan St bridge on the way to a game just two weeks ago. Clareese Packer Cadet Journalist Clareese is a Cadet Journalist at Newscorp and has worked across several mastheads since July 2023. She graduated with a Bachelor of Media and Communications (Journalism) from La Trobe University, where she was editor of the student magazine and interned at the Herald Sun. Since beginning her cadetship, Clareese has covered a range of topics from crime and finance to entertainment. Clareese Packer
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Melbourne streets turned red as A-League's fans set flares, taunt police
Flares have already been set off in Melbourne streets, with police out in force as the A-League's decider kicks off. Incredible photos have captured Melbourne streets turned red and yellow as flares were set off on Saturday evening, soccer fans descending on AAMI park to watch the showdown between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC. Crowds of fans bundled up in soccer scarfs appeared to be taunting officers, who turned out in big numbers ahead of the match. Some shouted anti-police chants, The Herald Sun reported. Previous matches between the two teams have erupted in chaos, including in 2022 where about 150 spectators stormed the field. Goalkeeper Tom Glover was allegedly struck in the head with a metal bucket during the incident, while life bans handed down. Victoria Police CBD acting commander Zorka Dunstan said some people were barred from attending Saturday night's big game, in a statement ahead of the match. 'The majority of supporters do the right thing and create an incredible environment for everyone in attendance, including families,' Mr Dunstan said. 'However, at times this year we have seen a very small group of supporters engage in reckless and anti-social behaviour. 'Due to their actions, some of these people are barred from attending this Saturday's big game. 'We don't want this small group to tarnish the event for the rest of the soccer community.' He said those in Richmond — particularly on Swan St — could expect a 'strong and dedicated police presence throughout the entire night'. 'There will be an unbelievable atmosphere on Saturday night as two traditional Melbourne rivals meet in the Grand Final for the first time,' Mr Dunstan said. 'The bumper crowd can expect to see plenty of police on the way to the game and at the ground itself.' Soccer fans lit flares under a Swan St bridge on the way to a game just two weeks ago. More to come …
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Melbourne streets turned red as A-League's fans set flares, taunt police
Flares have already been set off in Melbourne streets, with police out in force as the A-League's decider kicks off. Incredible photos have captured Melbourne streets turned red and yellow as flares were set off on Saturday evening, soccer fans descending on AAMI park to watch the showdown between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC. Crowds of fans bundled up in soccer scarfs appeared to be taunting officers, who turned out in big numbers ahead of the match. Just weeks earlier, soccer fans lit flares under a Swan St bridge on te way to a game. Previous matches between the two teams have erupted in chaos, including in 2022 where about 150 spectators stormed the field. Goalkeeper Tom Glover was allegedly struck in the head with a metal bucket during the incident, while life bans handed down.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Why police will be out in force at A-League Grand Final in Melbourne - as 30,000 fans head to AAMI Park for historic derby
Football fans will be closely monitored by police at Saturday's A-League Grand Final in Melbourne, as the code desperately looks to avoid a repeat of the shocking scenes from an infamous derby in 2022 that saw a pitch invasion and 29 arrests. Victoria Police have been pulled from multiple areas - and a number of stations will temporarily close - as resources are diverted to AAMI Park in the CBD to ensure rival supporters are on their best behaviour. It follows one of Australian soccer's darkest episodes, where approximately 150 Victory supporters stormed the pitch, unleashing 80 flares or fireworks and forcing the abandonment of the Melbourne derby in December of 2022. Then Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover left the field bleeding from a head wound and referee Alex King, two security guards and a camera operator were injured following the mayhem. At the time, a portion of disgruntled Victory fans announced plans pre-game via an Instagram page titled Original Style Melbourne (OSM) to storm the pitch after 20 minutes in protest of the controversial decision to hand Sydney grand final hosting rights until 2025. 'We demand answers from Melbourne Victory,' the lengthy social media post began following the announcement from former Australian Professional Leagues (APL) boss Danny Townsend a deal worth a least $10million had been struck with Destination NSW. 'The fanbase has spoken. You must back your most loyal. There is no other option. 'Without us there is no club. 'Silence will be considered collusion and won't be forgotten. 'You are either with us, or against us.' Fast forward to Saturday night's Grand Final and it is widely hoped history will not repeat itself. Thankfully, both sets of supporters on social media platforms appear to focused on the football, not engaging in anti-social behaviour. Victoria Police have confirmed they will have a visible presence at AAMI Park, ensuring both sets of fans enjoy the game and get home safely. 'There will be an unbelievable atmosphere on Saturday night,' CBD Acting Commander Zorka Dunstan said in a statement. 'The bumper crowd can expect to see plenty of police on the way to the game and at the ground itself.' A spokesman for AAMI Park also said there would be 'increased numbers of venue security, patron services and supervisor staff, as well as greater numbers of MSS Security and Victoria Police personnel.' Meanwhile, an A-League spokesperson confirmed the Grand Final is a sell-out. Two Melbourne teams chasing bragging rights and silverware in a decider is also an A-League first, dating back to 2005. 'We are the only sport in town,' the A-League spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'No AFL, NRL or even netball is being played (in Melbourne), so we are excited (to be in the spotlight). 'The capacity at AAMI Park is just over 30,000, and we have sold all tickets. 'Fans can enjoy the spectacle, and also see Socceroos such as Marco Tilio, Mat Leckie, Aziz Behich and Daniel Arzani in the flesh.' Melbourne City are unbeaten in their last eight games - but have not beaten arch-rivals Melbourne Victory since April of 2023.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Taskforce promise not kept after soccer's darkest day
A taskforce Football Australia promised to set up to tackle anti-social fan behaviour following the Melbourne derby pitch invasion has still yet to be established, more than two years after the sport's governing body publicly promised to do so. FA hit Melbourne Victory with record sanctions including a total of $550,000 in fines in January 2023 after fans ran onto the AAMI Park pitch in the December 17 2022 derby clash with Melbourne City. The violent scenes were described by FA chief executive James Johnson as "the worst witnessed in Australian football during the A-League era" after City goalkeeper Tom Glover was hit with a bucket and referee Alex King was attacked. Several Victory supporters involved in the violence, who let off flares or damaged advertising hoardings, were issued with stadium bans after the pitch invasion. Johnson said at the time that the newly-formed taskforce would ensure Australia was a world leader in stadium security. It's understood FA's taskforce was due to be established by June 2024 and relayed its recommendations to clubs last year. Those recommendations ought to have been implemented ahead of the current A-League season (2024-25) with the aim of cracking down on anti-social behaviour and ensuring stadiums were safe. But more than two years on, several A-League clubs, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and the players' union, Professional Footballers Australia, have yet to see the taskforce's complete findings. And in the time since FA promised to set up its taskforce there have been several spotfires across both the A-League Men and A-League Women. In the ALM last weekend, Auckland FC fans were shown setting off flares in celebration, with Western Sydney, the Victory and Sydney FC fans all having done similar over the last 12 months. Elsewhere over the last year, both Brisbane Roar and Wanderers supporters have staged walkouts following alleged heavy-handed treatment by police. In the ALW, there have also been two separate incidents of players being targeted by supporters with either racial or homophobic abuse. In a statement FA defended its record on fan-related issues since the Melbourne derby. "Football Australia takes the safety and security of all fans, players, and officials seriously," a spokesman said. "While the security taskforce was established to provide additional insight into future frameworks, we have not waited to take action. "Over the past two years, we have met with key stakeholders and implemented a range of measures to enhance crowd management and stadium security, working closely with the APL, law enforcement, and venue operators. "These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all football fans."
