Craig Foster and Robbie Slater slam ‘disgusting football fans’ at Melbourne A-League derby

Australian football greats crushed the football fans who attacked Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover at the Melbourne derby on Saturday night, shocking the football world.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster slammed the Melbourne Victory fans who stormed the pitch at AAMI Park, saying their actions shattered the progress the sport had made thanks to the Socceroos’ performance at the World Cup.

Australian football greats crushed the football fans who attacked Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover (pictured) in Saturday night’s Melbourne derby, shocking the football world

Former Socceroo Craig Foster slammed the Melbourne Victory fans who stormed the pitch at AAMI Park, saying their actions shattered the progress the sport had made thanks to the Socceroos’ performance at the World Cup

“I was absolutely horrified,” he said on Channel 9’s Weekend Today.

“My first thought was what an incredible month it’s been for the game and that’s not what football needs. These people brought the whole game into disrepute and rightly so, we are talking about millions of Australians, condemned these actions.’

Angry at the A-League’s decision to send the next three major finals to Sydney, both fan groups planned a mass strike in the 20th minute to vent their dissatisfaction with the decision.

They had previously chanted “f*** the APL” while unfurling banners and throwing flares onto the gaming arena before and during the game.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster (pictured) is appalled by Saturday night’s chaos

But the situation escalated when a flare from the Victory’s active area hit the cameraman and then exploded as City goalkeeper Thomas Glover picked up another flare off the ground and threw it back into the stands.

Then fans, most notably of Victory, rushed onto the pitch and Glover and referee Alex King were both hit by the sand-filled metal bucket used to dispose of flares.

Glover had a cut to his head that required stitches and a suspected concussion, while King had a laceration to his eyebrow. A Network 10 cameraman was previously injured when he was hit by a flare.

Then fans, most notably of Victory, rushed onto the pitch and Glover and referee Alex King were both hit by the sand-filled metal bucket used to dispose of flares

Players from both teams were herded through the tunnel while fans swung from the gate at the Victory end of the ground.

The game was suspended for almost 45 minutes before officials made the decision to abandon the game.

“I hope Thomas is okay, I haven’t spoken to him yet but to see him being attacked and people discrediting this game is disgusting,” Foster said.

Support for the sport in Australia has been at a level not seen since the 2006 World Cup, but a week of chaos has tarnished that feel good factor.

The game was suspended for almost 45 minutes before officials made the decision to abandon the game

“We saw hundreds of thousands of people come out and cheer for the Socceroos and stand at the live sites and just have the most extraordinary month and everyone came together, all Australians in all our beautiful diversity.

“Being passionate means respecting the game and respecting the rules around it, respecting the spectators and of course the players, everything else. That’s exactly what we don’t want here.”

Socceroos legend Robbie Slater also condemned the shameful scenes on Saturday night.

Support for the sport in Australia has been at a level not seen since the 2006 World Cup, but a week of chaos has tarnished that feel good factor

“This should be a time when we celebrate the wonderful performances of our Socceroos at the World Cup and now that has happened,” said Slater.

“I don’t know how we’re going to recover from this. How come? This could be the start of a slow death for the game.

“There should have been just a strike, not an invasion of the pitch, flares and attacks.”

Socceroos legend Robbie Slater (pictured) also condemned Saturday night’s shameful scenes and doesn’t know how Australian football will recover

Slater also pointed out that the whole incident could have been avoided if the decision to sell the A-League grand final to Sydney for the next three years had not been made in the first place.

“There’s no excuse for what the fans did there, but it never would have happened if it wasn’t for what happened during the week with the grand finals,” he said.

“The APL cannot take the blame for idiots invading the pitch, but they only invaded the pitch because of the current situation (grand final) which needs to be investigated.

“The lack of transparency and consultation in their decision has led to this.”

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic also slammed the incidents at AAMI Park, calling it the “darkest day for football in Australia”.

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic also criticized the incidents at AAMI Park, calling it the “darkest day for football in Australia”.

“Our game is in shambles. An absolute disgrace what happened tonight,” Vukovic said on Twitter.

“I can’t believe we are here after such an amazing World Cup and so much potential to see our game grow. Irreparable damage done. The darkest day for football in Australia.”