SATURDAY 8PM UPDATE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Ballarat Football League will investigate an on-field brawl involving Darley spectators and players which broke out after the final siren of the senior match between the Devils and North Ballarat City at Darley on Saturday.
BFL operations manager Shane Anwyl confirmed formal enquiries would begin on Monday.
He told The Courier that these would determine whether a full investigation would be launched.
Darley Football Club secretary Lorissa Edwards confirmed in a statement on the club’s Facebook page on Saturday night that incident had not involved any North Ballarat City players or supporters.
“This incident will be investigated internally and we will make no further comment at this stage.”
Anwyl was briefed on the incident shortly after it took place.
“We’ve been made aware of it.”
He said one of the first tasks would be to determine whether there was any vision available.
Anwyl said it was the practice for the official video recording of each match to continue until the umpires left the ground.
The brawl erupted after a spectator approached the two field umpires and directed verbal abuse at them from close range as they were about to leave the field at the end of the game, which Darley won by five points.
Anwyl said there would be discussions with Darley and North Ballarat City clubs, and Ballarat Football Umpires Association to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
He said the BFL had the power to discipline supporters and club members if any codes of conduct were breached.
Anwyl said there was zero tolerance to any detrimental issues with respect to the protection of umpires.
North City president Leon Jones told The Courier that he could say with 100 percent confidence that no player, official or supporter of his club was involved in the incident.
“I would also like to thank the Darley supporter who apologised after it had been confirmed none of our people were involved.”
Darley president Ray Newton required medical treatment in the clubrooms after he suffered facial injuries while attempting to defuse the incident.
EARLIER
SUPPORTERS have been injured in a brawl which broke out on the ground after the final siren of a Ballarat Football League senior match between Darley and North Ballarat City at Darley Park on Saturday.
At least one supporter required medical attention to facial injuries at the ground.
The incident erupted after a spectator approached the umpires, hurling abuse at them, as they left the playing arena.
As well as spectators, Darley players also became caught up in the altercation as they left the ground.
More to come.