13 hours Ago By Anthony Segaert
Police are appealing for video footage of a brawl that broke out on the sidelines of an under-7s football match in Sydney’s south-west. At least five adults were involved in the incident, which occurred at Prospect View Park in Fairfield just before midday on Saturday. File photo: People on the sidelines of the soccer match broke out into a brawl.
Credit: iStock A man and a woman were left with minor injuries following the fight, which was stopped by club officials and onlookers before NSW Police officers attended. The group was taken to Fairfield police station and two women, 31 and 38, and two men, 39 and 42, were charged with affray, police said. A 30-year-old man was charged with offensive conduct.
All were granted bail and will appear at Fairfield Local Court in May. The match was hosted by the Fairfield Hotspurs, but the club’s treasurer Nic Liberatore said the incident did not involve any Hotspurs team or players. “It’s currently under investigation,” he said, declining to comment further.
The Southern Districts Soccer Football Association, which manages the competition in the area, was also investigating the matter, said club representative Anthony Papallo. A fight broke out at an under-11s game in Melbourne’s north-east this month, Nine News reported. It began when the players began throwing punches after a missed goal and escalated when parents from both teams joined in.
Two years ago, a referee of 24 years had his jaw broken in three places , lost four teeth and suffered a permanent injury to his bottom lip when he was thrown to the ground and punched in the face by a suspended player after an adult Bankstown district Premier League match in Padstow. This February, an amateur boxer was sentenced to a minimum of one year and two months in jail for the attack. A court heard the boxer insulted the referee, who responded by hitting him with a linesman’s flag pole, then punched and kicked the referee multiple times.
The attack prompted the Bankstown Football Association to trial body-worn cameras on referees at Men’s Premier League Games. In August 2022, the riot squad was called in to break up a brawl in Sydney’s inner west in which spectators shouted and threw flares and road signs at each other outside Leichhardt Oval after a match between Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners. That December, Melbourne Victory fans ran onto the field and assaulted player Tom Glover and referee Alex King during an A-League derby on December 17 against Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
Police have asked anyone with footage or information about the Fairfield incident to contact Fairfield Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00. Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.
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