Getty Image / Darrian Traynor
It’s no secret that soccer fans are some of the most passionate sports fans of any sport. They take their sport very seriously, and if they don’t like administrative decisions, they don’t tolerate those decisions.
That’s been part of the sport for decades, and unruly fan behavior has led to terrible tragedies, like the Hillsborough disaster in England that left 97 dead in 1989. In many places, soccer and politics overlap and that causes big issues.
But, Australians are known as some of the nicest people on earth. The former British penal colony is one of the most pleasant places to live, and it’s full of even-keeled people. And, soccer isn’t the clear-cut top sport there like it is in many places around the world. It similarly resembles soccer’s place in America, actually. But, there’s been some recent controversy. And, that boiled over in the Melbourne Derby between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory Saturday in Australia.
Soccer fans stormed the pitch after a planned protest to walk out did not happen
News broke this week that the next three A-League finals would be played in Sydney, Australia. Of course, this angered fans of both main clubs in Melbourne. So, a planned walkout during the match was planned.
#ALeague #MelbourneDerby #WalkOut
•Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory.
People will be walking out in the 20th minute, this is huge. A lot bigger then people think.@drt15 you're a dog for destroying the biggest game of the season and our season. pic.twitter.com/2PrTlCEcVk
— 🇦🇺⚽️S.\m⚽️🇦🇺 (@MelbourneBlokee) December 17, 2022
That makes complete sense. Fans are mad, so they do a nonviolent show of disapproval at a huge match to garner press attention. But, that’s not what ended up happening. Instead, this happened.
WOW 🤯
Crazy scenes in the Melbourne Derby this morning, keeper smacked in the face with a bin 😳
Game abandoned ❌
— Football Fooligans (@Footy_Fooligans) December 17, 2022
That is an embarrassment for all involved. And, Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover even gets attacked. But, look what Glover had done just seconds before the soccer fans started storming the pitch.
Video showing tom glover throwing a flare back at victory fans inciting pitch invasion and attack #melbderby pic.twitter.com/smSdYt3hzC
— Andrew Hay (@AndrewH09521171) December 17, 2022
Not sure where I come down on that one. Obviously, fans should not be throwing flares on the field. That is a “do not pass go, do not collect $200” type move. But, throwing the flare back was a terrible choice and that seemed to have been what started the incident.
The match was abandoned with Melbourne City leading 1-0 in the 22nd minute. Stiff penalties will surely be coming down, and this is a black eye for soccer in Australia just weeks after their Socceroos made it out of the group stage in triumph.