The Melbourne A-League derby was abandoned after a player and the referee were injured by a spectator during a pitch invasion.
Fans ran onto the pitch in the 22nd minute of the game between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Referee Alex King was trying to protect City goalkeeper Tom Glover when both suffered cuts to their faces after being hit by a metal bucket.
Glover had several stitches before being taken to hospital for tests.
A statement from the city says Glover, 24, underwent “further follow-up checks” after being assessed by the club doctor.
A television cameraman was also injured by a flare.
In a report, Victory said the club were “devastated” and “unequivocally condemn” the “appalling behaviour” of the fans during Saturday’s game at AAMI Park, which the two clubs share.
“The actions that occurred, which saw spectators enter the pitch and injure a Melbourne City FC player, an official and a Network 10 cameraman, are not acceptable under any circumstances and have no place in the football,” he continued.
Fans had protested before and during the game, which was first suspended and then scrapped over player safety concerns.
The protests after the Grand Final moved to Sydney
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced last week that they had sold the rights to the A-League Grand Final to Sydney for the next three yearsand protests were planned at several A-League games this weekend.
Victory and City fans planned an exit after 20 minutes but the protest escalated after flares were thrown onto the pitch by both groups of supporters.
City were leading 1-0 when Glover appeared to launch a flare towards the crowd, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age.
Victoria Police said around 150 to 200 Victory fans then ran onto the pitch, and Glover and umpire King were hit by a bucket used to clear the flares, coating them in both powder and of smoke.
The players, including former Portugal and Manchester United winger Nani, were immediately sent off the pitch and Football Australia said the match had been called off “to protect the integrity of the match”.
A statement from Football Australia said “strong penalties” would be issued after the “shocking scenes”.
“Such behavior has no place in Australian rules football, with a full Football Australia investigation to begin immediately,” he added.
A statement from the APL said: “The Australian Professional League is coordinating with Football Australia regarding the ramifications of these events.”
‘An absolute disgrace’ – social media reaction
Victoria Police are also investigating the incident, which has been widely criticized on social media.
“I can’t believe what happened,” said former Australian midfielder Robbie Slater. “That’s not the way to protest. It’s very sad it’s come to this.”
Former Australian goalkeeper Clint Bolton added that “I have never felt as embarrassed and as empty as I feel right now”.
“This is an absolute disgrace on the part of Melbourne Victory fans,” the Western United left-back wrote. Ben Garuccio.
“That’s not what football needs in this country and I hope whoever threw that bucket will be banned from attending another A-League game.”
Newcastle Jets supporters also staged a protest 20 minutes from Friday’s home game with Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast Mariners fans did the same in Saturday’s game against Sydney FC, while a group of Sydney FC supporters boycotted the match at Gosford altogether.
