By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Thunder soccer club is set to face Football Federation Victoria’s tribunal over spectators firing six flares, including two rocket-propelled devices, at yesterday’s Victorian Premier League grand final.
Two teenage girls received minor injuries from the rocket flares — one had the rocket brush their shoulder, the other sustained a burnt cheek.
YouTube footage shows a rocket fired from within the Thunder’s fans behind goals. The rocket damaged a sign on the top level near the wing and ignited among fans on ground-level.
Another rocket hit the grandstand’s roof and ricocheted among the Thunder’s crowd.
The misbehaviour tarnished the club’s thrilling 2-1 premiership victory — its first — at AAMI Park last night.
Fans at the game immediately voiced their disapproval of the actions on Twitter.
A Hearts fan ‘Bozza’ tweeted that the rocket fired straight at the wing could have killed someone.
‘‘I saw what was an incredibly dangerous and stupid act that quite easily could have led to a fatality.’’
He saw a hand-thrown flare hit a player in the head and the other a spectator. ‘‘And then there was the rocket on top. Beyond stupid.’’
Another spectator ‘Katie’ tweeted: ‘‘Rocket flare? disgraceful way to end a tightly contested final & to injure a small child. Hope to never see anything like that again.’’
Football Federation Victoria spokesman Gordon Irving said the FFV was holding a ‘‘football-related’’ inquiry, and believed police were running a separate investigation.
‘‘The club will need to go to our independent tribunal,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s very dangerous and that’s why we’re conducting an investigation.’’
Mr Irving said the incident came after a season of unblemished crowd behaviour at Thunder games this year.
The club had been put on notice last year over a series of assaults, spitting incidents and referee abuse among crowds at its games.
In May 2011, the FFV penalised the club after its third serious incident in 14 months.
It handed down a $20,000 fine, loss of six points and two ‘‘lock-out’’ home games that were not open to fans.
Thunder treasurer Ronnie Mustafai said the club should not be held accountable by the FFV for ‘‘one silly supporter’’ or ‘‘a young kid’s’’ deed.
‘‘I hope it doesn’t come to that. I’d be shocked if it did. It’s harsh for everyone else at the club.
‘‘We’re not apologising for what happened. If we can, we will support AAMI Park, the police, the FFV to find out who it is, and deal with the individuals.
‘‘We’re against that sort of behaviour. It’s dangerous and brings a bad name for the game. As soon as we saw the flares, we’re over to the crowd and trying to calm them down.’’
Mr Mustafai said he was surprised flares had been smuggled past security checks at the venue’s gates.
‘‘The major problem is AAMI Park security and how the flares got in.
‘‘This year we’ve had big zero tolerance against violence and flares. At all home-and-away matches, we’ve had no issue with our crowd.’’
