- Incident occurred at match between South Sydney and Parramatta
- Opposing fans clashed in the stands and allegedly came to blows
- At least one security guard watched situation escalate
Footy fans have slammed security staff at NRL venue CommBank Stadium for allegedly ignoring escalating violence in the stands that unfolded right in front of them.
The alleged fighting happened during the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 32-16 victory over the Parramatta Eels at the western Sydney venue on Thursday night.
Fan footage shared to social media on Friday showed several male and female fans of both NRL sides appearing to push, shove and punch each other while the nearby security guard watched on.
The footage starts with a man wearing South Sydney supporter gear appearing to have been knocked over a row of seats while a man dressed in Parramatta colours wrestled with him on the ground.
A woman wearing Parramatta gear came in to assist before another woman wearing a Rabbitohs jersey underneath a black puffer jacket stormed in.
She helped the man wearing Rabbitohs fan gear to his feet and ushered him away.
As that was happening, people watching on were screaming at the security guard to ‘come over’ and ‘do your job, you clown’.
‘Hurry the f*** up,’ a man who had not been involved in the alleged violence yelled to security guards stationed higher up in the stands.
A security guard on the field at CommBank stadium watches on, but does not act despite witnessing an alleged fight in the stands
The situation then escalated, with the man in the Parramatta jersey racing back up to the other man he had been wrestling with.
The woman wearing South Sydney supporter gear then appears to strike the Parramatta fan in the mouth, which finally prompted the on-field security guard to walk over.
He walked to the side of the stands and appeared to say something like ‘what’s going on?’, but took no further action.
A man walking with a crutch then made his way up the stairs to get security to intervene.
When another fan urged him to stay put, he said: ‘It’s OK, I’m an ex copper’.
Two other security guards then came down the stairs which is where the footage cuts out.
Security firm National Event Services is contracted for NRL matches at Sydney venues.
A closer look at the footage shows this South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter appear to strike a Parramatta fan in the head
New South Wales Police have been contacted for comment.
CommBank Stadium management told Daily Mail Australia, ‘Security responded quickly to an altercation in the stands after the match.
‘Security and police were involved, and the two patrons have been charged with assault as well as being banned from the venue for 12 months.’
It comes after reports that the NRL is investigating allegations a fan verbally abused two Parramatta Eels players at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday.
A video has surfaced showing a fan verbally abusing Parramatta players Junior Paulo and Dylan Brown as they left the field through the tunnel after the Eels’ loss to the Knights.
The abuse was severe enough to make both players stop and confront the fan, who was also challenged by nearby spectators.
Several members of the crowd were screaming for security to intervene, but their pleas for help fell on deaf ears
The NRL has been informed of the incident, and the integrity unit is now investigating, with suggestions that the abuse may have been racially motivated. Venues NSW is reviewing CCTV footage to identify the individual responsible.
Another instance of crowd violence this season saw footage shared on social media featuring an NRL fan headbutting a security guard during a chaotic incident in the crowd at the Wests Tigers vs Brisbane game at Campbelltown Stadium in April.
The video shows a man in a black shirt pushing past a Wests fan to reach the centre of the disturbance before headbutting the security guard, who was attempting to calm the situation.
The fan who shared the video on social media said: ‘Just another day at the league where a fan headbutts security.
‘Barely any security/police presence compared to an A-League match.’
