Melbourne City goalkeeper is smashed in the face with a BIN as A-League game descends into chaos

The Melbourne Derby was abandoned after shocking scenes on Saturday night as fans invaded the pitch and attacked City’s goalkeeper at AAMI Park.

Furious with the A-League‘s decision to send the next three grand finals to Sydney, fans were planning to stage a mass walkout on the 20th minute to vent their discontent with the decision.

However, tempers boiled over and by the 21st minute, supporters encroached the pitch and City goalkeeper Thomas Glover was attacked, with a bin smashed into his face.

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There were shocking scenes at AAMI Park as football fans attacked a Melbourne City player

Fans stormed the pitch on the 21st minute of the Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory game

Flares were let off as supporters freely encroached the pitch at AAMI Park in Melbourne

Several fans climb on the goalframe while the players were waiting in the tunnel

Play was abandoned due to player safety after Thomas Glover was struck by a bin

The referee is spotted talking to the City goalkeeper in the tunnel in the aftermath

City confirmed that their goalkeeper had likely suffered a concussion from the assault

The 24-year-old was left bloodied and the game was suspended, before later being abandoned.

City confirmed that Glover has likely suffered a concussion and was receiving treatment in the dressing room.

Footage has since come to light showing the fans behind the goal racing onto the pitch immediately after Glover threw a flare back into the crowd. 

Since the A-League started in 2005, clubs have needed to earn the right to host the grand final based on how they performed in the finals series. The NSW decision flies in the face of A-League tradition.

Football Australia released a statement shortly after the game was abandoned, condemning the ‘shocking scenes’ in Melbourne.

‘Following shocking scenes during the first half of the A-League Men’s match between Melbourne Victory FC and Melbourne City FC at AAMI Park on Saturday 17 December, where fans from the Melbourne Victory FC end entered the field of play, Football Australia match officials have abandoned the match in accordance with Law 5.3 of the Laws of the Game in order to protect the integrity of the match.

‘Such behaviour has no place in Australian Football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions to be handed down.’ 

The 24-year-old stopper was left bloodied and was hauled off the pitch by teammates

Glover angered fans by throwing the flare into the crowd moments before the chaos

This week, supporter groups across the country have lashed out at the deal – worth $10million – and announced their intention to voice their opposition by leaving games on the 20-minute mark.

On Friday night, Newcastle Jets fans left in their droves during their side’s 1-0 defeat by Brisbane Roar, with a banner reading: ‘Fans > $$’ displayed. 

Peak body the Australian Professional Leagues have doubled down on the decision despite a huge backlash from fans and football stars that led APL director Anthony Di Pietro to resign.

Socceroos hero Craig Goodwin joined the chorus of condemnation on Monday, tweeting: ‘I do not support it. I am a player, but I am also a fan. Like many fans around the country, and like I said, I too am disappointed in this decision.’

Brisbane fans are planning to walkout on December 23, and it remains to be seen what action local police take to ensure that these shameful scenes don’t repeat themselves in Queensland.

‘This decision not only is anti football but every thing it stands for and the manner in which it has been made and communicated shows that the suits simply do not care about us, the fans,’ supporter group The Den said.

‘For too long we have felt the our club has not respected us enough and was not acting in the fan’s best interests, and our chairman’s actions throughout this controversy confirms this.

‘Now the organisation as a whole has shown that they too do not have the fans a priority number 1.

‘The fans should always be 1st priority.

‘Football is not a business.

‘If not for the fans, then who is the A-Leagues for?’