Melbourne Victory members barred from upcoming match after violent pitch invasion

All Melbourne Victory ‘North End’ members have been barred from the upcoming A-Leagues double-header at AAMI Park under the club’s sanctions for their fans’ violent derby pitch invasion.

The fans who stormed the pitch on December 17, when the A-League Men match against Melbourne City was abandoned and City goalkeeper Tom Glover was injured with a metal bucket, came from the active fans area of the north end of AAMI Park.

Both active areas will be closed and covered with tarpaulins for Friday night’s doubleheader at the same venue, where Victory’s A-League Men team play Brisbane Roar and the A-League Women play Perth Glory.

Victory’s ‘South End’ members will be relocated to different seats but their ‘North End’ equivalents are not permitted to attend games until at least 15 January, when FA will provide an update on its show cause process.

The club will offer north-end members a complimentary double pass to one of their remaining home games.

Football Australia’s interim sanctions said only Victory members were able to attend Friday’s event, with any other tickets already sold to be refunded and ticket sales otherwise prevented.

There had been confusion over what that meant for ALW members, who normally don’t have membership access rights to doubleheaders, in particular on Friday.

Victory confirmed on Tuesday their ALW members will be offered a ticket to redeem and they can stay for both matches.

General admission and reserved seat members can also attend.

There will not be separate ticket sales for the ALW game as there is only 45 minutes between its scheduled finish and the kick-off of the men’s match.