FLARE ENOUGH: GLOVER CLEARED OVER FAN RIOT

MELBOURNE City’s Tom Glover has avoided suspension for throwing a flare back into a crowd of Melbourne Victory fans.

The decision on Tuesday came as City decided to close its own active supporter area at AAMI Park for its next two home games and ban the use of flares.

Having been deemed fit to play on Tuesday night against Central Coast Mariners despite suffering concussion and a cut face after being hit with a bucket during the Melbourne derby pitch invasion at AAMI Park on December 17, Glover has been cleared by a match review panel.

Glover’s tossing of the flare – which had been initially thrown towards him – led to about 150 Victory fans invading the pitch, with him being assaulted, as well as referee Alex King and a Channel 10 television cameraman.

The game was abandoned after just 20 minutes with City leading 1-0.

Ten Victory fans have since been banned from all soccer-related activity in Australia, two of them for life.

The Victory has also been hit with a host of sanctions as investigations continue, with further punishment likely.

However, Glover has avoided a ban, largely due to King’s match report, part of which stated: “Tom Glover, the goalkeeper, had thrown the two flares back.

“One went over a hoarding behind the goal and unfortunately one went back into the crowd. In no way do I believe this was done purposely by Glover.”

To determine if Glover was to face a “violent conduct” charge, the MRP also had to be satisfied that King saw the incident, his view was not obscured, and that the incident was not alerted to him by an assistant referee, the fourth official or the video assistant referee.

A Football Australia spokesman said: “Since the independent MRP was satisfied that the incident had not escaped the referee’s attention, it did not proceed to consider whether Glover should have been sanctioned with a direct red card.

“Accordingly, the MRP has not cited the incident pursuant to the regulations.”

For Tuesday night’s match and City’s home game against Western United on January 7, the City Terrace active supporter area at AAMI Park will be closed, all existing casual tickets into that section will be refunded and all casual ticket sales into the area will be suspended.

Also, all general admission members will be required to redeem complimentary reserved seats, while the first three rows behind the goals will be closed.

City has also announced that one of the club’s active supporters has been banned for using flares.

“Melbourne City is a family club, and we pride ourselves on creating a fun, safe and inclusive environment,” the club said in a statement.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to the use of flares at our matches, which is why we have decided to take this action.”