Police have charged 13 people following a violent pitch invasion at the A-League Melbourne derby, and another 18 others have been identified.
Among them are four males allegedly responsible for assaults on the field, after fans swarmed on to the pitch during a match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City on Saturday at AAMI Park.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: A-League pitch invaders handed life bans.
Newsletters: Our top sports news direct to your inbox. Subscribe now 
Football Australia also issued lifetime bans to two of the men: a 23-year-old Craigieburn man accused of throwing a bucket full of sand at City goalkeeper Tim Glover, and a 19-year-old man from Meadow Heights, Victoria.
The life-time ban bars the patrons 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.
It also prohibits the men from registering as football participants.
“The 23-year-old has been found guilty by Football Australia of entering the field of play without authorisation and using an item (bucket) with the intent to cause damage or harm, which ultimately saw the Melbourne City FC goalkeeper require hospitalisation,” Football Australia said.
“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.”
The 23-year-old was also hit with a string of charges including violent disorder, discharging a missile, intent to cause injury, recklessly cause injury, unlawful assault, entry to sporting competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
Police also charged an 18-year-old from Alphington, along with the 19-year-old from Meadow Heights, for allegedly assaulting Glover in separate incidents.
All three men self-presented to police stations on Monday and were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in February.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said these bans will be the first of many that the sport’s governing body expects to issue following the incident.
“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.”
Ten more charges laid by police
Ten additional crowd members have also been charged for alleged offences relating to criminal damage and discharging flares and missiles, bringing the total number to 13.
More charges are expected to be laid by police in the coming days, with police identifying an additional 18 people involved as part of Operation Astute - the investigation into the mass pitch invasion.
A 26-year-old Northcote man was charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, unlawful assault, entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance, riotous behaviour and discharging a flare.
A 23-year-old Wollert man was charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, entry to sporting competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
A 28-year-old Albion man, 26-year-old St Albans man, 27-year-old Cairnlea man, 18-year-old Diggers Rest man, 26-year-old Ringwood East man, and a 26-year-old Sunbury man were all charged with entry to competition space, disrupting a match, public nuisance and riotous behaviour.
A 17-year-old Reservoir male has been charged on summons with reckless conduct endangering serious injury and discharge a lit distress signal in relation to the cameraman who was allegedly hit with a flare.
And a 22-year-old Pascoe Vale man is expected to be charged on summons with discharging a lit distress signal.
All of those who have been charged were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 27, while the remaining will be charged on summons.
Shameful scenes condemned
The charges come after more than 150 football fans ran onto the field after a significant number of flares were ignited and thrown through the crowd.
A Network 10 TV cameraman was hit in the back of the head, which police said left him with a contusion and burned clothing, while Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover was struck with a bucket of sand, leaving him with a cut cut requiring stitches and a suspected concussion.
Referee Alex King, who went to protect Glover, was also struck by the bucket.
Two security guards were also injured in the incident, during which bottles were thrown at the Public Order Response Team who responded on the field.
Police said approximately 50 flares were lit within the stands and at least three were thrown onto the field, with the pitch invasion causing an estimated $120,000 worth of damage to the venue.
Fans had planned to walk out at the 20-minute mark as part of a protest against the Australian Professional Leagues’ decision to sell the next three grand finals to Sydney.
The crowd chanted “f*** the APL” while unfurling banners pre-game and during the match and throwing flares onto the playing arena.
The situation escalated when a flare from the Victory active area hit the cameraman and exploded, and Glover picked up another flare off the ground and threw it back into the stands.
Football issued a show-cause notice to Victory, and the club has until 9am AEDT on Wednesday to show why it “should not face serious sanctions for bringing the game into disrepute through the conduct of its supporters”.
Soccer legend Robbie Slater says pitch invasion could have been avoided
Stream free on
