A pitch invader who threw a bucket into the face of an A-League goalkeeper during the “darkest day” for Australian football has been jailed.
Alex Agelopoulos launched a bucket of sand at Melbourne City goalie Tom Glover during a violent pitch incursion in December last year, when football fans were protesting the relocation of the league’s finals matches.
The 23-year-old was sentenced to three months behind bars on Tuesday by Magistrate Rosemary Falla who also banned him from attending matches at Melbourne’s AAMI Park for five years.
Agelopoulos’ barrister Dermot Dann flagged an immediate appeal against the sentence, which also includes a community corrections order, including extensive random drug testing and supervision for 18 months after his release.
A bail application will be heard later on Tuesday.
Glover had to be taken to hospital after being struck with the bucket, just after the 20-minute mark of a derby match against Melbourne Victory on December 17.
He suffered a cut to his face and a concussion which kept him from training for a week, as well as ongoing anxiety.
A security guard was also struck with hot sand from the bucket Agelopoulos threw, causing a singed eyebrow.
The violent scenes, which caused extensive damage to the stadium, was part of an organised protest across A-League matches during that weekend.
Days earlier Football Australia sold the A-League finals rights to the NSW government, effectively guaranteeing finals matches would be hosted at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium until at least 2026.
Falla said the invaders’ actions caused fear for spectators – both in the 18,000 strong crowd and those watching on television, and brought the game into disrepute.
“There is no place for this type of offending in any sport, especially a sport you claim to love,” she said.
