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Socceroos fans have revealed the gruesome injuries caused by flares thrown by reckless supporters in Federation Square during the World Cup, including a youngster who was hit in the eye.
Some 15,000 people packed into central Melbourne to watch Australia take on Argentina in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday morning.
The Socceroos would ultimately lose the match 2-1 against the South American heavyweights and things started to get out of hand as Australia fell behind 2-0.
Socceroos fans watch Australia play Argentina during the FIFA World Cup, at Federation Square in Melbourne on Sunday, where multiple flares were launched and thrown into the crowd.
Melbourne Socceroos fan Sam Rogan shows the burns he received when he was hit by a rogue flare in Federation Square
Sam Rogan, 19, from Melbourne, spoke to Today about being hit in the arm by a flare in the chaos and his desperate search through the smoke and crowd to find his partner who had been hit in the eye.
He was hit in the arm by a flare, suffering third degree burns from which he will take three months to recover.
“He’s a bit sensitive, lying on him and hitting him is a bit painful, but now we’re here and we’re still alive.” It could have been a lot worse, so I’m thankful it’s just my arm,” he said Tuesday morning.
It’s like a thousand degrees when they’re on. When you hit someone it hurts
Sam Rogan, Socceroos fan
‘Australia kick a goal and we’re all celebrating having a fun time, then all of a sudden a flare comes from behind and lands on my arm. Then I eat fire on my arm.
‘I run through the smoke, realize my arm is kind of burned, look down, then can’t see anything because of the smoke from the flares.
‘I was looking for my companions… I was screaming for water, my arm hurt a lot. After they found out how serious it was they did well to take me to the medical bay and catch up with my partner who got hit in the eye.
Hopefully, both fans will make a full recovery from their injuries.
Right now he is at home, resting. His recovery program is a little longer than mine because the eye is a very delicate part of the body,” Sam said.
‘I have a bandage on me now, they said I’ll be on this for two or three weeks. I have to protect myself from the sun for three months, which is not ideal with summer just around the corner.
Sam said the event started to get out of control after Argentina’s second goal, when flares were thrown for the first time and fireworks were set off in the tight crowd.
It was pretty crazy. When we were losing two to nil, you could tell that spirits began to drop. Bottles, cans, glass and flares were thrown,” he said.
“There were even fireworks on a stage going off too low. People were crouching, it was crazy.
“There were a few police officers outside, maybe 10 or 15, but once you walk through those doors, there are only 15,000 people and not a police officer in sight.”
The fans began to go rogue in Federation Square as Argentina scored their second goal to go up 2-0 in the World Cup knockout match.
Sam has urged soccer fans to be more careful about the use of flares at live events in future, especially when thrown into crowds of people.
‘Look, if some changes are made, then I could go back to Fed Square. If there’s 15,000 people going there and flares and stuff. I don’t know if they’ll see me there,’ she said.
‘Flares is kind of a part of football culture, I get it. But when there are a lot of flares that you can see on the video and people start throwing them off, that’s when it gets out of control.
Rogan has asked fans to be more considerate and think about how dangerous flares can be when thrown into a crowd of people.
‘You just want to think before what you’re doing. I know that many more people were injured than I was.
‘Like, it’s like 1000 degrees when they’re on. When it hits someone, it does damage.
‘It’s kind of stupid to start throwing them away and being reckless with them. If you’re going to have a flare and bring it in, be careful with it and be cautious and respect the people around you who are trying to enjoy the game.’
The flare incident was just one of many chaotic scenes across the country in which football fans were injured as thousands flocked to live viewing sites in Australia’s capital cities.
An Argentinian man has been hospitalized in Brisbane after being hit by a milk crate, while a woman has lost a large part of her hair after being hit by a flare in Sydney.