Hawthorn fans in Australia face five-year bans — ABC News Australia
In Australia, Hawthorn supporters identified after the bottle-throwing incident involving umpires face at least a five-year ban from attending matches and entering the stadium. This was reported by ABC News Australia. The incident occurred at the MCG stadium in Melbourne after Hawthorn lost to the Brisbane Lions by nine points in the Australian Football League preliminary final.
According to the league, bottles were thrown from the stands toward the umpires as they were leaving the playing field. The AFL, Melbourne Cricket Club security service and Victoria Police will work to identify those involved. The league said the actions of several people were dangerous and had “crossed the line.”
Controversial decision at the end of the match
Some Hawthorn supporters were angered by a holding-the-ball free kick awarded against Jarman Impey in the final minute of the game. The source calls this decision the most controversial among a series of disputed umpiring incidents in the match. Brisbane player Hugh McCluggage then kicked a goal that put the Lions three points ahead.
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After the final siren, Hawthorn players James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan spoke emotionally with the umpires. The team’s head coach, Sam Mitchell, said he knew about the bottles thrown onto the field and stressed that supporters should not throw objects onto the field despite their emotions after the match.
Reaction from authorities and the fans’ association
Victoria Premier Ben Carroll condemned the spectators’ behavior. He said that a bottle or can could have caused catastrophic injuries if it had struck an umpire in the head. AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko also called throwing objects unacceptable, noting that they could seriously injure a player, umpire, security worker, stadium staff member or another spectator.
