AN official investigation has been launched by police and the Western Region Football League (WRFL) after an altercation during the first semi-final between Sunshine and Parkside on Sunday.
Security present at the ground was called into action to control a confrontation between spectators on the field during the three-quarter time break.
According to league officials, a conflict developed between two players on the stroke of three-quarter time as spectators entered the field for the addresses of both coaches.
While the players were separated, an isolated incident developed between members of the crowd, forcing the umpires from the ground until calm could be restored.
“We have police and security at the ground, and they were able to break up the situation,” WRFL chief executive Damien Phillips said.
“The players got themselves sorted out but unfortunately one spectator thought he could take action into his own hands.
“We were never at the stage where we needed to call the game off. We were able to control it.”
Phillips said the WRFL was keen to stamp out similar circumstances in the future and hoped the league would not need to place restrictions on spectators entering the field during breaks.
“We’re not going to stand for that sort of rubbish. That’s not what the WRFL is about,” he said.
“If blokes from yesteryear want to carry on like that, they can go somewhere else because they’re not welcome at our games.
“Do we have to get to the point where we don’t allow spectators on the ground during the finals because of people who don’t know how to behave at sporting games?”
