Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover escapes ban

Melbourne City’s Tom Glover has avoided suspension for throwing a flare into a crowd of Melbourne Victory fans after a referee declared the goalkeeper had not done it purposely.

The decision came as City decided to close their own active supporter area at AAMI Park for its next two home games and ban the use of flares.

Having been deemed fit enough to play on Tuesday night against Central Coast Mariners despite suffering concussion and a cut face after being hit with a bucket during the Melbourne derby pitch invasion at AAMI Park on December 17, Glover has also been cleared by an independent match review panel.

Glover’s tossing of the flare – that had been initially thrown towards him – led to about 150 Victory fans invading the pitch, the assault of Glover, referee Alex King and a television cameraman, and the decision to abandon the derby after 20 minutes with City leading…