Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has slammed soccer followers who stormed onto the pitch of an A-League match throughout dramatic scenes in Melbourne.
Hundreds of spectators stormed AAMI Park area on Saturday night time throughout the first half of the match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne FC.
Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover and referee Alex King have been injured – Glover struck with a metallic bucket filled with sand in what Victoria Police known as a “disgraceful” show.
A cameraman was additionally allegedly struck at the back of a head with a flare.
Mr Andrews mentioned these concerned deserved to really feel the total drive of the regulation.
“It’s shameful, it’s wrong. That’s not us. That sort of violence is not acceptable anywhere and that’s not part sport or part of our way of life and I condemn it in the strongest way,” he mentioned.
“I know that governing bodies, venue operators and Victoria Police, they’re hard out finding out those people.
“They will feel the full force of the law.”
Mr Andrews went on to say the small variety of hooligans gave a nasty identify for 1000’s of followers who attended simply to observe the sport.
“Those sorts of scenes (shouldn’t be) part of sport, they’ve got nothing to do with sport,” he mentioned.
“They are an insult to that game and it is a profound insult o every fan who goes along for the beauty of that game.”
Victoria Police mentioned “investigations remain ongoing” in an announcement on Sunday night.
No arrests have been made and no one has been charged as of Monday morning.
Police warned on Sunday they might be “knocking on a few doors” imminently in a bid to search out these accountable.
Police and 1000’s of supporters have condemned the behaviour on what has been known as soccer’s “night of shame”.
The match was deserted and Football Australia mentioned in an announcement that such behaviour had “no place” in Australian soccer.
It promised “strong sanctions” towards these concerned.
