The AFL has banned a man for life who ran onto Adelaide Oval and disrupted a game.
The 22-year-old from North Adelaide trespassed during Adelaide’s AFL match against Geelong on March 22.
Appearing to be recording the episode on his mobile phone, he not only entered the arena but ran straight into the action as players fought over a disputed ball.
After a referee stopped play, Crows midfielder Matt Crouch grabbed the man before breaking free, only to be caught by Adelaide’s Ben Keays before security pounced.
The AFL said on Wednesday the man has been banned for life from attending AFL and AFLW matches anywhere.
“Running to the ground during a match is not only pointless, it is unsafe and illegal,” AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.
“If you choose to do so, not only will you receive a significant fine, you will have to deal with local authorities and ultimately you will lose the privilege of attending AFL matches.”
The man was arrested that night and released on bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 19.
He faces a maximum fine of $5,000 for breaching South Australia’s recreational land regulations.
The AFL said the man, who was not a member of the club or the AFL, could apply to have his ban reviewed after a five-year period.
Adelaide and Geelong coaches criticized the “dangerous” pitch invader, with the Cats’ Chris Scott making reference to the infamous 1982 incident when Australian cricketer Terry Alderman dislocated his shoulder tackling a pitch invader in Perth.
Scott’s Adelaide counterpart Matthew Nicks spoke of the danger to the two Crows players, Crouch and Keays, who caught the invader.
The incident was one of several pitch invasions this season, with two spectators running towards the MCG during Geelong’s win over Hawthorn on Easter Monday.
While the incident in Adelaide occurred during the game, both fans during the Hawthorn match ran onto the field while the game was suspended due to a lightning warning.
Finally, security guards spread out across the floor while teams waited in rooms for the danger to pass.
AAP/ABC
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