A soccer match in Australia's top league was abandoned on Saturday after hooligans stormed the field, with Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover hit in the head by a metal bucket by one fan, leaving him bleeding.
The A-League match was between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory, fierce rivals who were playing each other at Melbourne's AAMI Park.
Flares and smoke canisters were thrown by hardcore supporters of both teams, who congregated at both ends of the stadium.
After a smoke canister landed near Glover he threw it back into a group of Melbourne Victory supporters, after which fans stormed the field.
Dozens of Victory supporters pushed over external barriers and confronted City players.
During the chaos Glover was hit with a metal bucket, leaving him bleeding from the head.
In response referee Alex King suspended the match, which City had been winning 1-0, and it was later abandoned.
Unsavoury scenes in the Melbourne derby as fans run onto the pitch and the referee was hit with what looks like the sand bucket used to put out flares. pic.twitter.com/oXo1k7samG
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) December 17, 2022
Australian soccer players and journalists took to social media to express their disgust.
Sydney FC left-back Michael Zullo tweeted: "Ashamed, embarrassed, infuriated. The damage done to our game tonight is inconceivable. All our hard work, ruined. We can only hope that those responsible are dealt with accordingly, and the individual that assaulted a professional athlete is thrown in jail. Disgraceful."
Ashamed, embarrassed, infuriated. The damage done to our game tonight is inconceivable. All our hard work, ruined. We can only hope that those responsible are dealt with accordingly, and the individual that assaulted a professional athlete is thrown in jail. Disgraceful.
— Michael Zullo (@MichaelZullo5) December 17, 2022
Danny Vukovic, who plays for fellow A-League team Central Coast Mariners, tweeted: "Our game is in tatters. An absolute disgrace what happened tonight. Cannot believe we are here after such an amazing WC [World Cup] and so much potential to see our game grow. Irreparable damage done. Darkest day for football in Australia."
Professional soccer commentator Simon Hill wrote: "And our fall from grace is complete. Like the World Cup never happened. Very sad & angry."
And our fall from grace is complete. Like the World Cup never happened. Very sad & angry.
— simonhill1894 (@simonhill1894) December 17, 2022
Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory have been contacted for comment.
The disorder came after soccer in Australia received a huge boost when the national team, nicknamed the Socceroos, made it to the last 16 at the on-going World Cup tournament, before being knocked out by finalists Argentina.
Morocco and Croatia will contest the third-place play-off later today at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, before the final between France and Argentina on Sunday.
Saturday's game kicks off at 10am EST, with Morocco and Croatia hoping to bounce back from their defeats against France and Argentina respectively.
Morocco were the first African team to make it to the World Cup semi-finals, while Croatia lost in the 2018 World Cup final, beaten 4-2 by France.
Sunday's World Cup final starts at 10am EST, and can be viewed in English on Fox, FS1 and FS2.
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About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
