SOUTH Australia’s Victims’ Rights Commissioner has called for violent sport fans to be ‘banned for life’, after a wild brawl erupted before last night’s A-League clash between Sydney and Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium.

A man was kicked in the head and others punched and abused during a wild brawl ahead of the match before police finally arrived to disperse the crowd of about 25 men.

The fans became involved in the fracas near a tram stop at the Entertainment Centre.

media_camera Still grab of agitated football fans outside Hindmarsh Stadium ahead of the A-League match between Adelaide United and Sydney FC on Friday evening. Video: Colin James

Bottles, as well as insults, were hurled during the brief confrontation, which was captured on video.

Police said they had spoken to at least one supporter but there were no reported injuries or arrests.

When asked by the Sunday Mail if police were investigating, a spokesman said no because a report had not been made to police.

But police are now reviewing CCTV and other footage of the incident, including an alleged assault.

Former AFL stars Kane Cornes and Warren Tredrea were among those to publicly condemn the behaviour.

On Saturday, Commissioner of Victims’ Rights, Michael O’Connell said there should be a clear, strong message to fans: “If you are unwilling to ‘play by the rules’, you will be banned — banned for life.”

“Overseas experience catastrophically shows what happens when authorities fail to properly manage crowds attending sports, such as soccer,” Mr O’Connell said.

“Hooligans and thugs like those fighting, inciting others to fight and throwing flares in Adelaide risked the wellbeing of innocent people — young and old, individuals and families. “There is no place for this violence in soccer.

“A soccer match is a spectacle to be enjoyed. For many it is a family event.

“True sports fans do not want troublemakers ruining their sport. They do not want their families, their friends, their loved ones or themselves to become victims of rioting or other violence.

“Police and security should be sensible, so vocal fans can cheer and barrack.

“However, those who antagonise and attack should be dealt with swiftly and firmly.

“They should be stopped from entering soccer grounds. If inside, they should be removed. They should be punished for their crimes.

“There is no place for hooligans and thugs in soccer; in fact, there is no place for hooligans and thugs in any sport.

“Those who engage in violence surrender the right to be fans. Fans should not support their violence. Sports authorities and clubs should not support it either.

“Sporting venues should be safe places for spectators and players. Seats should be emptied of hooligans and thugs, not decent people wanting to watch their heroes play and their team to win.

“Having played hundreds of soccer matches, I look forward to taking my grandchildren to watch the greatest game played on a pitch.”

The Advertiser’s Colin James, who filmed the brawl says tensions spilt over as a packed tram carrying supporters arrived at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre just before 7pm.

“It just blew up as we were all getting off the tram to walk to the stadium,” he told Advertiser.com.au on Saturday morning.

“The Sydney FC supporters were on the other side of Port Road goading a small group of United supporters.

“There was lots of taunting and gesticulating when the United supporters suddenly just ran across the road and started laying into them.”

James said the brawl was very violent, with numerous punches and kicks being thrown by both sides, which totalled around 20 to 25 individuals.

““They kept shouting at each other through the traffic before one of the Sydney supporters lit an orange flare and threw it across the road.

“A Reds supporter grabbed it and threw it back at them.

“Then some others went to a rubbish bin and grabbed beer bottles and wine bottles and starting hurling them.”

James said the bottles landed among United supporters as they watched the confrontation, narrowly missing them as they filmed it on their mobile phones.

“It was pretty hairy as the bottles were landing on the concrete near us and smashing,” he said.

“It fired the United supporters up again and they charged the Sydney guys for a second time. It was on for young and old again.”

James said more punches and kicks, including some to the head of a Sydney supporter knocked to the ground were exchanged before two groups again separated.

“There was a bit more verballing and chest beating until a police patrol turned up and they all ran off.”

James said it took almost 10 minutes for the police to attend, despite a heavy presence at Coopers Stadium, only a short distance away.

James said it seemed as though the two groups of supporters had expected to confront each other at the tram stop.

“The Sydney supporters were waiting in a side street and as soon as the United supporters got off the tram they headed straight towards them,” he said.

“It took no time at all before they just ran at each other and started fighting.

“As soon as the two cops arrived the Sydney supporters bolted down the side street and ran off behind the Governor Hindmarsh.

“The Adelaide supporters made themselves very scarce as well.”

James said he showed his video to police officers outside Coopers Stadium in a bid to identify the Sydney supporter who threw the flare.

“They had a look and took my details,” he said.

“I went inside the stadium with my son, who was pretty shocked by what we’d seen, and the guy was in there with the Sydney supporters in their segregated section in the southern stand,” he said.

“He stayed the entire match and I saw him again entering a pub opposite the ground when we were leaving.”

An Adelaide United FC spokesman said footage had emerged of two groups involved in an incident on Port Road prior to last night’s match.

“Football Federation Australia is currently investigating the matter,” he said.

The confrontation comes two weeks after Sydney beat Adelaide 2-1 in Sydney, claiming the Football Federation Australia Cup for the first time.

The match became heated when Adelaide’s Michael Marrone careened into a ball boy, knocking him to the ground and igniting a bench clearing shoving match on the side line which ended with Marrone being booted from the game.