ID :
189871
Mon, 06/20/2011 - 16:59
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/189871
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Vic footy brawls may lead to charges
Charges could be laid after wild brawls involving 60 players and spectators broke out when an umpire awarded a free kick at the end of a drawn country Victorian football game.
The melee began at the end of the Aussie rules match between Westerns and Dartmoor at Portland on Saturday afternoon.
But it soon resumed after players left the field and a spectator was knocked unconscious as the violence spread.
The on-field brawl came after an umpire awarded a free kick in the final seconds of the game to Westerns because Dartmoor players and officials standing near the coach's box refused to move back from the boundary line.
A second brawl involving up to 60 people ignited as the teams returned to the changerooms at Alexandra Park, although police believe at that point many of the spectators were trying to break up fighting players.
"Then a third brawl broke out in front of the changerooms involving spectators, and that's when the man was injured," a police spokeswoman said.
The 36-year-old Portland man was punched in the face and knocked out. He was taken to hospital but released on Saturday night.
South West District Football Netball League vice-president Robert Chandler said the melee escalated as fans joined in.
"Spectators were getting involved and it just got out of hand," he said.
"It just got worse and worse and kept going."
Mr Chandler said a group of players and officials were standing at the boundary line near the coach's box and were warned by the umpire to stand back.
"He asked them about three times and they wouldn't move. A free kick was awarded and then they started abusing so there was a 50-metre penalty. The siren went and it all escalated from there," he said.
Portland police Acting Sergeant Anthony Handley said tensions were high throughout the drawn game over umpiring decisions.
"I guess it's not unusual to have fights on football grounds unfortunately, they happen, but they usually stop by the time they come off," he said.
"A lot of people said, in all their years of attending country football they've never seen anything like it."
Acting Sgt Handley said two spectators were likely to be charged over the third brawl.
The league's tribunal will convene on Wednesday night to decide on five reports. Both sides were reported for engaging in a melee.
Mr Chandler said a Dartmoor official was cited on a serious charge involving an umpire, while the club's playing coach was reported for striking.
The late free kick did not affect the result of the drawn game which left Dartmoor on top of the South West District ladder after round 10, while Westerns are in fifth spot.
The melee began at the end of the Aussie rules match between Westerns and Dartmoor at Portland on Saturday afternoon.
But it soon resumed after players left the field and a spectator was knocked unconscious as the violence spread.
The on-field brawl came after an umpire awarded a free kick in the final seconds of the game to Westerns because Dartmoor players and officials standing near the coach's box refused to move back from the boundary line.
A second brawl involving up to 60 people ignited as the teams returned to the changerooms at Alexandra Park, although police believe at that point many of the spectators were trying to break up fighting players.
"Then a third brawl broke out in front of the changerooms involving spectators, and that's when the man was injured," a police spokeswoman said.
The 36-year-old Portland man was punched in the face and knocked out. He was taken to hospital but released on Saturday night.
South West District Football Netball League vice-president Robert Chandler said the melee escalated as fans joined in.
"Spectators were getting involved and it just got out of hand," he said.
"It just got worse and worse and kept going."
Mr Chandler said a group of players and officials were standing at the boundary line near the coach's box and were warned by the umpire to stand back.
"He asked them about three times and they wouldn't move. A free kick was awarded and then they started abusing so there was a 50-metre penalty. The siren went and it all escalated from there," he said.
Portland police Acting Sergeant Anthony Handley said tensions were high throughout the drawn game over umpiring decisions.
"I guess it's not unusual to have fights on football grounds unfortunately, they happen, but they usually stop by the time they come off," he said.
"A lot of people said, in all their years of attending country football they've never seen anything like it."
Acting Sgt Handley said two spectators were likely to be charged over the third brawl.
The league's tribunal will convene on Wednesday night to decide on five reports. Both sides were reported for engaging in a melee.
Mr Chandler said a Dartmoor official was cited on a serious charge involving an umpire, while the club's playing coach was reported for striking.
The late free kick did not affect the result of the drawn game which left Dartmoor on top of the South West District ladder after round 10, while Westerns are in fifth spot.
