Forward of the eagerly anticipated ‘Big Blue’ match at AAMI Park on Australia Day between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FCthe controversial ‘Authentic Fashion Melbourne’ energetic help group have introduced their return.
The supporters group were blamed for the wild pitch invasion in December that resulted in Victory hit with a file $550,000 effective, a suspended 10-point deduction, and an array of sanctions handed down by Football Australia.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Fan angle captures the second AAMI Park was plunged into chaos.
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Through the violent pitch invasion by 150 Victory followers, City goalkeeper Tom Glover was struck in the head with a metal bucket of sand as fans stormed the AAMI Park field and surrounded the goalkeeper.
Match referee Alex King, a TV cameraman and two safety guards had been additionally injured within the melee.
Following the dramatic occasion, Victory introduced that they had been “dedicated to the disbandment of any A-League Males’s energetic supporter teams that had been acknowledged on the time of the incident”.
Nonetheless, Authentic Fashion Melbourne took to social media to announce they plan to attend the match in opposition to Sydney FC on Australia Day.
“Melbourne vs Sydney – Thursday 6:45pm,” the Fb put up by Authentic Fashion Melbourne mentioned.
“Identical to in years passed by, our presence stays a continuing regardless of outcomes on the pitch, and restrictions within the stands.
“For this match, if you need to look at the sport collectively along with your mates and the remainder of the terrace, and never be separated throughout the energetic space – we advise shopping for tickets in bay 33 to start out, after which to bays 34/35 ought to or not it’s essential.
“See you all quickly.
“Endlessly Melbourne.”
A big police presence is predicted for the match at AAMI Park with Victory saying it would guarantee all of the sanctions imposed on the membership are upheld.
“Melbourne Victory has made it clear that the energetic help group acknowledged on the date of the Melbourne derby is not going to be acknowledged by the membership shifting ahead,” a Melbourne Victory spokesperson mentioned.
Following the ugly incident, Victory’s managing director Caroline Carnegie mentioned the membership desires to rebuild its relationship with its followers.
“We have accepted every part that is been handed right down to us, and we’re simply trying ahead to shifting from right here and rebuilding every part we will to nonetheless carry the colour and noise and every part that makes Melbourne Victory and soccer distinctive to our video games, however to ensure we do it in a method that’s secure,” Carnegie mentioned.
Greg O’Rourke, Australian Skilled Leagues commissioner, mentioned the A-League, the police and AAMI Park workers and safety would all work collectively to make sure followers attending the sport felt secure always.
It’s unknown if further safety might be patrolling the AAMI Park venue in the course of the Large Blue with a stadium spokesperson saying workers numbers, together with safety, are evaluated on a game-by-game foundation following a threat evaluation.
