Melbourne Victory fans were enjoying the relaxed atmosphere in Melbourne’s Mail Exchange before a semifinal match against rivals Melbourne City when police stormed the venue in an unprovoked attack. Police appeared intent on intimidating football fans gathered at the Spencer Street pub before kick-off, it was reported.

Anneke, a university student who spent hours in the nearby train station’s first-aid room after the incident, described the chaotic scene: “We’re not really clear as to why, they were pushing everyone to the back of the room. A woman was filming and the cops just pushed her, threw her phone out of her hands.”

After this initial surge, the 19-year-old said that the police appeared to be leaving the building before releasing a stream of pepper spray into the room. “They were leaving and no-one’s following them or anything like that”, she said. “Then one copper opens the door and just at eye level, sprays the pepper spray into the room.”

Dozens streamed from the bar, searching for milk and water to pour in their eyes. They looked to the police, who were still milling outside, for answers. “I physically couldn’t open my eyes because they were so swollen”, said Elliot, another student caught by the pepper spray.

It is not uncommon now for police to attack A-League fans, particularly those known as active supporters. Active supporters are organised groups of fans that sing and chant for their teams during matches. Reports of harassment of these groups before and after games are common. Another Victory fan told Red Flag: “While this is obviously horrific, it’s just one of a number of times they’ve tried to do this.”

Western Sydney Wanderers fans reported that six people were treated for the effects of pepper spray after police aggressively entered the crowd at Parramatta Stadium on 25 April. Police claimed that the force was necessary to remove a person accused of lighting a flare. The fans don’t agree. One Wanderers supporter told the ABC: “The cops pulled out the pepper spray and went at him; other people surrounded him saying ‘stop’ and then other cops started spraying too. Some kids were getting pulled out of the bays to go and get water to put in their eyes.”

Many of the Wanderers active supporters left the stadium at half-time in protest. However, outside they were again targeted by police. The situation escalated quickly with the entry of riot police and the dog squad.

In Melbourne, despite the unprovoked police violence, Victory fans had plenty to celebrate with a 3-nil win over Melbourne City, seeing their team through to the A-League final.