ST ALBANS Saints Soccer Club was getting bad publicity over matters that had little or nothing to do with the club itself, according to Vicsoccer’s chief executive officer, John Kelly.
Mr Kelly told Star that while there was in fact a “scuffle that turned into a brawl” at the St Albans soccer grounds on 29 July, the event had been exaggerated in the media.
He said he believed it may have been exaggerated due to the gatecrashed party at the St Albans Saints’ clubhouse last month.
Mr Kelly said the St Albans Saints Soccer Club was not directly involved in either event, as the clubhouse was rented out to party organisers.
The match in which the scuffle occurred was between Broadmeadows Stars and HNK Mostar teams, 17 minutes into the second half of the match, according to a police media spokeswoman.
Mr Kelly said the Saints were not involved in the scuffle. However, its seriousness had led to a tribunal hearing set for Monday, 6 August, after Star went to print.
The police spokeswoman said the incident at the match occurred after a Broadmeadows Star player was awarded a free kick and an argument occurred, which turned into a brawl involving players.
She said officials and spectators had stepped in to break up the brawl involving about 40 people.
The spokeswoman said it was alleged two people armed themselves with sticks, which resulted in two Broadmeadows players being knocked unconscious.
She said one of those players had facial injuries, including loss of teeth.
The spokeswoman said two other players received superficial injuries.
No charges had been laid, but there was potential for charges to be laid, she said.
Star was unable to contact St Albans Saints Soccer Club for comment.
CLARIFICATION: The teams involved in the 29 July incident were the Broadmeadows Stars and HNK Mostar, not the Southern Stars Soccer Club and St Albans Saints as published on 31 July.
