Football Australia boss James Johnson 'horrified' after violent Melbourne A-League derby

Football Australia (FA) boss James Johnson says he is ‘horrified and irritated’ with the scenes witnessed at Saturday’s night chaotic A-League Melbourne derby – but insists the game is ‘very safe’.

The sport’s governing body in Australia oversees the Professional Leagues – which runs the top-tier competitions – and Johnson, the CEO, moved to assure fans that the horrifying incident was not ‘a reflection of the broader game’ in a press conference on Sunday morning.

Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover had to be taken to hospital and received stitches after being smashed in the face with a bucket full of sand, as the Derby descended into chaos and was eventually abandoned.

They were scenes never seen before in Australian football, which has developed quite the violent reputation over the years; and Johnson refused to even call the members of the crowd who took part as fans.  

The game was suspended after Victory fans stormed the pitch and forced players and match officials to swiftly retreat to the dressing rooms

‘I’m horrified, I’m irritated, I’m angry with the scenes we witnesses last night. We have in the case of some individuals – I will not refer to them as football fans – who have confronted a player and they met official individuals who have wilfully disrupted led individuals who have invaded faded the pitch,’ he said in Sunday’s press conference. 

‘Football is very safe. We saw in the other games there were peaceful protests … I don’t think it’s a reflection on the broader game.’

Furious with the A-League’s decision to send the next three grand finals to Sydney, both sets of fans were planning to stage a mass walkout on the 20th minute to vent their discontent with the decision.

They had earlier chanted ‘f*** the APL’ while unfurling banners pre-game and during the match, and throwing flares onto the playing arena.

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But the situation escalated when a flare from the Victory active area hit the cameraman, then exploded when Glover picked up another flare off the ground and threw it back into the stands.

Fans, primarily Victory ones, then stormed onto the pitch and Glover and referee Alex King were both struck by the metal bucket, which is filled with sand and used to dispose of flares.

Glover was left with a cut head, requiring stitches, and a suspected concussion while King had a gash on his eyebrow. A Network 10 cameraman was earlier injured when he was hit by a flare.

Thomas Glover was left bloodied and the game at AAMI Park was swiftly abandoned during the violent and chaotic scenes 

Players from both teams were rushed down the tunnel, while fans were swinging from the goal at the Victory end of the ground.

The game was suspended for close to 45 minutes before officials made the decision to abandon the fixture.

‘Our game is in tatters. An absolute disgrace what happened tonight,’ Socceroos and Central Coast goalkeeper Danny Vukovic said on Twitter.

‘Cannot believe we are here after such an amazing WC and so much potential to see our game grow. Irreparable damage done. Darkest day for football in Australia.’

Fellow Socceroos and A-League star Craig Goodwin, who spoke out against the plans to relocate the Grand Final to Sydney this week, said: ‘Extremely disappointing. Regardless of what has happened, this is not the way to respond and only gives the game a bad look.’