Adelaide Venue Management Chief Executive Anthony Kirchner stood down over Coopers Stadium ban on Melbourne Victory fans

Anthony Kirchner, Chief Executive of Adelaide Venue Management Corporation (AVM), the operator of the city’s Coopers Stadium, has been stood down from his role following controversy over the introduction of a ban at the venue on Melbourne Victory fans attending the next A-League fixture against Adelaide United.

In a statement released on Sunday (27th August), AVM announced Kirchner had been stood down from his role with immediate effect with Adelaide Convention Centre General Manager Martin Radcliffe appointed interim Chief Executive while a review takes place.

On Thursday, an announcement declaring the club’s spectators would not be sold tickets for next year’s match against Adelaide United due to “violent and riotous behaviour that has become synonymous with this fixture” briefly appeared on the venue’s website. It advised that only Adelaide United members and ticket holders with a South Australian postcode would be allowed to attend the game.

The move was short-lived with the announcement quickly removed and AVM Chair Andrew Daniels stepping in to claim the statement had been put up “in error’’.

In addition, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the ban was the wrong decision, stating “the decision to ban the entire cohort of fans because of the behaviour of a few is wrong.”

Adding that the South Australian Government welcomes Melbourne fans who do the right thing, Premier Malinauskas stated “(troublemakers are) the ones that should be punished - not everybody that supports Melbourne Victory.

"We want Melbourne Victory supporters, we want Victorian and people from other parts of the country to come to South Australia and see what we have to offer."

The uncertainty over a potential ban follows a high-profile pitch invasion involving Victory fans at Melbourne’s AAMI Park last year, which resulted in that match being abandoned.

In its initial statement on Thursday, AVM said it had met with A-League management to address "ongoing safety concerns" but accused the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) of "ignoring their concerns".

AVM also pointed to crowd issues in a match between United and Victory last season.

It noted “the first, held in November 2022, had Melbourne Victory supporters present, and was plagued with the usual violent and riotous behaviour that has become synonymous with this fixture, resulting in unacceptable risk to many in attendance.

"It is important to acknowledge that Melbourne Victory supporters are not solely responsible for the violent behaviour and safety issues at these matches.

"Many Adelaide United 'casuals' attend this fixture each season with the core purpose of engaging in high-risk behaviour and provoking Melbourne Victory supporters, police and security."

Prior to being stood down, Kirchner had reiterated his decision to ban Victory fans from the stadium, commenting “the AVM Board was aware of my intended position on this matter and Chair Andrew Daniels had requested that AVM management show leadership on this issue.

“As AVM CEO, the safety of all concerned is my first priority, but I also have very specific responsibilities under the WHS Act whereby I can be personally fined hundreds of thousands of dollars or jailed for up to 10 years if I’m found to be negligent.”

Kirchner pointed to a match at Coopers Stadium last November to support his decision for the Adelaide ban, adding “(it) was plagued with the usual violent and riotous behaviour that has become synonymous with this fixture.”

Images: Anthony Kirchner (top, credit: Adelaide Venue Management Corporation) and Melbourne Victory fans during the pitch invasion at AAMI Park in December last year (below).