A-League fan that hurled bucket at goalkeeper Thomas Glover had previously been banned from games
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It has been revealed that the football fan who threw a bucket of sand at Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover during last weekend’s A-League derby had previously been banned from attending matches.
The fan, who has been labeled a ‘bucket man’, stormed onto the pitch and hurled the bucket at the custodian, leaving him bleeding, shocked and needing to be escorted off the pitch.
It is alleged that the ‘bucket man’ attacked Glover because the goaltender had launched a sea flare launched onto the field towards the crowd.
The herald sun has reported that the man had only had a previous suspension lifted in May of last year prior to his actions at AAMI Park.
Police have charged the fan with violent disorder, discharge of a missile, reckless injury, trespassing into a sporting competition arena and rampant behaviour, while he is likely to receive a lifetime ban from Football Australia events.
The moment Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover was hit by a bucket of sand as protesters invaded the pitch in the A-League derby
A bleeding Melbourne City Tom Glover is escorted off the pitch by his teammates after fans stormed the pitch and he was hit by the bucket of sand.
The Sun also reported that another of the pitch invaders was serving an 18-year ban handed down in 2013, but had somehow made it into AAMI Park.
He was one of about 150 people who invaded the field and was seen pulling a cart to the side of the field.
The two pitch invaders are among 36 people identified so far by police, which include five soccer fans who were currently or previously banned from A-League matches.
It comes after an Adelaide United supporter claimed one of the pitch invaders in Melbourne was the same man who left him with a fractured skull earlier this season.
Adelaide United had beaten Melbourne Victory 3–0 at the Hindmarsh Stadium on 11 November when the incident allegedly occurred.
The Adelaide supporter said he was approached by a large group of Melbourne Victory supporters as he was exiting a tram after the match.
“I changed my path because I didn’t want any trouble,” he said.
‘One of them ran out onto the road, came up to me and punched me in the face. I immediately fell to the ground.
Melbourne Victory fans invade the pitch during the Australian A-League men’s football match between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park
Players could only watch during the carnage before they were carried off the field and the match was abandoned.
The extreme scenes at AAMI Park came after an organized approach by A-League supporters to peacefully withdraw from matches in protest of the sale of the grand final to Sydney for the next three years.
While the strikes were carried out without violence at other A-League venues, the situation got out of hand in the Melbourne derby, forcing the match to be suspended.
Football Australia handed down the first round of sanctions for the violence and banned Victory from selling tickets for home games, with only members with advance tickets allowed to attend.
The sections behind the goalposts will be inaccessible to fans and fans will not be able to attend away games and further penalties are likely.
Penalties do not apply to the Melbourne Victory women’s team.
Some of the camp invaders police have questioned or are seeking to question, including the ‘bucket man’ shown center left
Victoria Police Inspector Jason Goddard has warned that severe punishment awaits the invaders launched from the Melbourne A-League derby and called for public assistance.
Melbourne Victory are scheduled to play Western United on Boxing Day and police have warned that there will be a large visible police presence at the match.
“Police were appalled by last weekend’s pitch invasion and have filed a series of charges against those involved in the incident for violent disorder, criminal mischief and assault,” the statement said.
“This should send a very clear message that the police will not tolerate this type of behavior at sports matches.
“Once again, we will closely monitor people’s behavior and will not hesitate to take swift action against any anti-social or criminal behavior.”
Anyone with information about those in the images can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.