Watch the moment Matildas fans overwhelm police and security and push down a barrier in Federation Square – with ‘hundreds’ storming the live site
Police and security personnel in Melbourne were momentarily overwhelmed as Matildas fans stormed into Federation Square ahead of the World Cup semi-final against England.
The Melbourne landmark is one of the live sites where fans have gathered during the tournament to see the Matildas in action and Wednesday night was no different.
Thousands of fans flocked to Federation Square from 5pm, turning the site into a sea of green and gold and overflowing security personnel.
Footage shared on Twitter showed fans pushing down the barricades on the river side of the plaza as hundreds of spectators gained access to the plaza.
Mounted police were quickly called in to bolster security in the vicinity of the toppled fences.
Police and security personnel in Melbourne were momentarily overwhelmed as Matildas fans stormed into Federation Square ahead of the game against England
Thousands of Matildas fans gathered in Federation Square to watch the semi-final
The organizers declared the live site full on Wednesday evening an hour before kick-off
When Federation Square filled to capacity an hour before kick-off, organizers directed latecomers to the live site at AAMI Park.
Melbourne isn’t the only city in Australia to set up multiple live sites to bring Matildas fans together.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced earlier this week that Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta and Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park would open to the public for the semi-final.
Those stadiums complement the FIFA Fan Festival held at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, where more than 202,000 spectators have enjoyed the matches so far.
Minns said he wanted to make sure “as many families as possible” could watch the blockbuster event with other Australians.
‘The Matildas run at this FIFA World Cup has swept the country; their quarter-final victory was the most highly regarded TV event since Cathy Freeman’s 400m gold medal at the Sydney Olympics,” he said.
“We are opening more big screens at Western Sydney Stadium and Sydney Football Stadium – we want to give NSW every chance to break that viewing record.
Live sites have also been placed on Brisbane’s Riverside Green and South Bank, Adelaide’s Festival Plaza and Memorial Drive, and Perth’s Forrest Place.
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