Australian soccer club sanctioned after pitch invasion

By The Associated Press

Melbourne Victory fans invade the pitch during the A-League Men's soccer match between Melbourne City and the Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. The soccer match between rivals Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory was abandoned Saturday after fans invaded the field and attacked City goalkeeper Tom Glover.(Will Murray/AAP Image via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Will Murray]

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Melbourne Victory soccer club has been prevented from selling tickets to home games and fans cannot attend away matches under Football Australia’s preliminary sanctions for a violent pitch invasion. The Victory were put on notice after 150 spectators stormed the AAMI Park pitch in last Saturday’s A-League match against Melbourne City, forcing the match to be abandoned. City goalkeeper Tom Glover sustained a concussion and facial lacerations when he was hit with a metal bucket wielded by a pitch invader. Referee Alex King, a television cameraman and two security guards were also injured. Football Australia has not fully determined final sanctions but has put Friday’s temporary measures in place until Jan. 15.