Injured Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover breaks silence on 'disappointing' pitch invasion
Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover has voiced his disappointment with being caught up in the 'please explain' handed to Melbourne Victory after Saturday's violent pitch invasion at AAMI Park.
Glover was taken to hospital with a concussion and "severe lacerations" after being struck with a metal bucket as spectators stormed the pitch at the 20-minute mark of the A-League Men's Melbourne derby. He was released from hospital on Sunday morning.
Speaking outside City training on Monday, with the cut on his right cheekbone bandaged, Glover said he was disappointed to be involved in the affair.
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A bleeding Tom Glover of Melbourne City is escorted from the pitch by team mates after fans stormed the pitch during the round eight A-League Men's match between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park, on December 17, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Getty
"Obviously it's disappointing for football, but I'm OK," he said.
"It's the incident, but more for Australian football itself.
"The Socceroos were unbelievable (at the World Cup) and you know (football was) hopefully riding the wave of that - but a small minority ruins it."
Asked if he would be following up the investigation into the assault, Glover said he would leave it with the Police to handle.
"The police investigation is doing its thing. For me it's getting back on the pitch and being ready for next week," he said.
Fans from both Melbourne clubs threw flares onto the pitch during the first half of the match, but when Glover hurled a flare back into the Victory fans area at the northern end, it triggered a group of spectators to force their way onto the pitch and beeline for the 24-year-old.
Glover said he did not intend to throw the flare back into the crowd.
"My intentions were never to throw it over the fence," he said.
Tom Glover of Melbourne City picks up a flare to remove it from the pitch during the round eight A-League Men's match between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park, on December 17, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Getty
On Sunday, Football Australia bosses stated they had not ruled out sanctioning Glover for threatening spectators with the flare.
At the opposing end, Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo collected the flares thrown in his direction next to the goal, outside the field of play.
In other matches across the weekend, fans staged a peaceful walk out at the 20-minute mark of games in protest of the Australian Professional Leagues' decision to award the hosting rights of the A-Leagues' grand finals to Sydney.
On Monday afternoon Victoria Police confirmed three men had been charged, with more expected to follow.
