The refs were right to stop the game and enforce order. Looking at some soccer highlights from Australia this weekend, it’s clear that the boundary between mischievous fan misbehavior and serious outcomes can be a thin one.
Fans of both clubs began throwing flares onto the AAMI Park field before making their exits, after having already launched projectiles onto the pitch following an 11th minute goal.
I do not consider the line to be "thin". These people who deliberately bring in objects designed to hurt people have clearly satisfied the dot points for any tort of intentional assault.
Should any injury or death occur, there would be criminal proceedings.
The incident only got more dangerous as Glover was hit in the head by a metal bucket filled with sand that had been designed to extinguish flares hurled in his direction. Teammates rushed to him and escorted him off the field as blood trickled down the side of his face.
“Such behaviour has no place in Australian Football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately, where strong sanctions to be handed down.”