The Football Federation Victoria have passed down their final ruling on the events relating to Melbourne Victory at Lakeside Stadium on the 24th April, deducting six competition points from the club with a further six points suspended; the biggest points penalty of the NPL Victoria era.
Heidelberg United were docked nine points, reduced to three points after appeal, for two charges of misconduct in the aftermath of last year’s Elimination Finals defeat to Pascoe Vale, while Dandenong Thunder were also deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in earlier this season.
The club have avoided a fine as a part of their charges, with the disciplinary report reading that Victory “took all reasonable steps to prevent that which ultimately occurred”.
The club was charged with bringing the game of football into disrepute as a result of their supporters engaging in a violent melee in an NPL Victoria fixture against South Melbourne, with the result originally scheduled to be passed down on Friday 24th June, COB.
17 of the 32 individual supporters have already been found guilty by the tribunal with a variety of penalties ranging up to five-year bans.
“An extensive violent exchange then occurred between Melbourne Victory and South Melbourne. The instigators were Melbourne Victory and the aggressors were Melbourne Victory,” read the official disciplinary report.
On the penalty handed down, the report read:
- Melbourne Victory take all reasonable steps to identify all the wrongdoers at the fixture and bring them to justice both before the Grievance and Disciplinary Tribunal and also Victoria Police.
- That 6 championship points be deducted from the Melbourne Victory team and furthermore, there be a further 6 points deducted, such deduction to be suspended for 12 months from the date of this decision. The 6 penalty points the subject of suspension shall become actual points deducted from Melbourne Victory should it commit the same offence.
Victory’s compliance with the FFV and their processes for identifying the remainder of the wrongdoers was one of the reason’s why they were not fined for the action of their supporters bringing the game into disrepute.
“We have elected not to fine Melbourne Victory for what occurred for four reasons,” the report read.
“First we accept the credible evidence of Mr McLeod and Mr Robson that fines will have no detrimental effect.
“Second, Melbourne Victory took all reasonable steps to prevent that which ultimately occurred.
“Third, it is their staff members who are responsible for gathering the evidence that has led to 17 spectators being banned from the game.
“Fourth, after an initial discussion with the panel Melbourne Victory pleaded guilty to the charge”
Furthermore, the five following points were considered in the passing of this penalty:
- Melbourne Victory is a leader in the provision of security at football games.
- There was extensive consultation in respect of security for this game involving both clubs, the FFV and Victoria Police.
- Save for the fact that banned spectators did actually gain entry the increased security standards were to the standards agreed.
- Melbourne Victory has provided considerable support and assistance to FFV and this has led to charges against 17 of the 32 wrongdoers.
- Melbourne Victory has agreed that it will continue working to identify more of the 32 wrongdoers with a view to bringing them to justice so far as the FFV and Victoria Police are concerned.
The FFV also made their first official mention of an incident against Melbourne Knights at Epping Stadium on the 30th April, 2016, stating “no charges were laid against any person”.
“Furthermore, at the hearing we were told that the week after this game, even with hindsight of this fixture, the game at Epping was not without incident.
“No charges were laid against any person however anti-social activity occurred in connection with the match – albeit outside the stadium”
The points penalty will apply with immediate effect, leaving Melbourne Victory stranded on the bottom of the NPL Victoria ladder with four competition points.