Life time ban for pitch invaders

Two idiots have banned for all soccer events in Australia after storming the field during the Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park on Saturday, 17 December.

Football Australia issued a 23-year-old man from Craigieburn and a 19-year-old man from Meadow Heights with life-time bans from all related football activity including attending Football Australia-sanctioned football matches and events including all A-Leagues, Australia Cup, National Premier League, and National Team matches and registering as a football participant.

The 23-year-old has been found guilty by Football Australia of entering the field of play without authorisation and using an item, a bucket, with the intent to cause damage or harm, which ultimately saw the Melbourne City FC goalkeeper require hospitalisation.

The 19-year-old man has been found guilty by Football Australia of entering the field of play without authorisation and engaging in conduct that did or was likely to cause harm or endanger others.

Football Australia Chief Executive James Johnson said these bans will be the first of many that FA expects to issue as part of this ongoing investigation.

“The actions of these two, and others who are of interest to us, are completely unacceptable and those people and their behaviours will never be welcome in our game,” Johnson said.

“Football has a zero-tolerance policy to disruptive, destructive, violent, and anti-social behaviour at its sanctioned events, and it will not tolerate behaviour that has the potential to threaten the safety or security of spectators, players, and officials. These significant bans against these individuals are consistent with this position.

“Football Australia is working around the clock on this investigation to ensure that the scenes witnessed at AAMI Park in Melbourne are never repeated again,” Johnson concluded.