Football Australia has today issued a further eight bans to spectators as part of the organisation’s ongoing investigation into the unacceptable events that unfolded during the A-League Men’s match between Melbourne City FC and Melbourne Victory FC at AAMI Park on Saturday, 17 December.
In working with Victoria Police, Football Australia has issued eight people ranging in age from 18-years-old to 28-years-old, with bans spanning five years to twenty years. These bans are effective immediately and will preclude them from all related football activity including attending Football Australia-sanctioned football matches and events encompassing all A-Leagues, Australia Cup, National Premier League, and National Team matches and registering as a football participant.
The eight people have been sanctioned by Football Australia on a variety of violations – where each case differs – including entering the field of play without authorisation; engaging in conduct that did or was likely to cause harm or endanger others; engaging in conduct that did or was likely to cause unlawful damage to the venue or the various forms of infrastructure within the venue; and throwing a projective and/or missile in a dangerous manner.
Football Australia has a zero tolerance policy to disruptive, destructive, violent, and anti-social behaviour at its sanctioned events. Such conduct is a breach of A-League Terms of Admission, which requires that all persons must comply with the Football Australia Spectator Code of Behaviour.
Since the abandonment of the match, the Victoria Police publicly announced on Monday, 19 December and Tuesday, 20 December that these eight people are also subject to a range of charges.
18-year-old Alphington man charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
Football Australia sanction: 20 years
21-year-old Northcote man charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, riotous behaviour and discharging a flare.
Football Australia sanction: 20 years
23-year-old Wollert man charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, entry to sporting competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
Football Australia sanction: 15 years
28-year-old Albion woman charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
Football Australia sanction: 5 years
26-year-old St Albans man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
Football Australia sanction: 5 years
27-year-old Cairnlea man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
Football Australia sanction: 5 years
18-year-old Diggers Rest man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
Football Australia sanction: 5 years
26-year-old Ringwood East man charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, and riotous behaviour.
Football Australia sanction: 5 years
Today’s announcement brings the number of bans issued by Football Australia following the Melbourne Derby to ten.
“As promised to the Australian football community of over two million participants and the wider public, Football Australia has taken swift and decisive action against those who have brought our game into disrepute by their conduct during the Melbourne Derby, and we will continue to do so as part of our ongoing investigation,” said Football Australia CEO James Johnson.
“Football is the beautiful game, it brings together people like no other sport can, and we will not let the actions of these non-football fans cast a dark cloud over the game we love.
“Football Australia will continue to work with Victoria Police and the venue to identify other guilty parties and rid our game of such people. We ask our community to make any reports to Crime Stoppers,” concluded Johnson.
In working with Victoria Police, Australian Professional Leagues and the operators of AAMI Park, Football Australia can also confirm that four supporters on Football Australia or Australian Professional Leagues’ ban lists were actively prevented from attending the Melbourne Derby on 17 December 2022.
“It’s pleasing to hear that current procedures around stopping those on ban lists from entering venues on match days are working but we know more needs to be done in this area, and this will be a focus for Football Australia in our ongoing conversations with the Australian Professional Leagues, clubs and venue operators,” explained Johnson.
While Football Australia continues to work with the Victoria Police to identify further offenders, Football Australia will now shift its focus to the Melbourne Victory FC show cause notice and will be in a position at a point on Friday, 23 December to provide an update on proceedings.
Football Australia does not expect to make any further updates today.
