Shocking scenes in Australia as goalkeeper attacked and match abandoned in Melbourne derby

An A-League derby between Melbourne rivals City and Victory was abandoned after fans invaded the pitch and City goalkeeper Tom Glover was left bleeding after appearing to be attacked.

With league leaders City 1-0 up and just 22 minutes on the clock at AAMI Park, Victory fans behind Glover’s goal came onto the pitch and objects were thrown.

Cameras captured Glover being hit in the face by a bucket and left bloodied after the incident, while reports said that referee Alex King was also injured during the fracas.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Glover needed stitches for a cut in his head and also suffered a suspected concussion, while King was cut in the eyebrow as he tried to protect Glover from fans.

Play was suspended and the players taken off the pitch, and the game was eventually abandoned.

“Following shocking scenes during the first half of the A-League men’s match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City … where fans from the Melbourne Victory FC end entered the field of play, Football Australia match officials have abandoned the match … in order to protect the integrity of the match,” an Australian FA statement read.

“Such behaviour has no place in Australian football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions to be handed down.”