Police are disputing a Sydney father's claim that he and his family were evicted from Sunday night's A-League semi-final at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah after trying to take his disabled daughter to a bathroom.
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Vision shows security staff and police surrounding Rory Carroll at the game between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory and later escorting him and his family out of the venue.
But Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton told 2GB on Monday he was "confident from the advice I've got" that Mr Carroll tried to access the grandstand "on his own" and "pushed past ushers and security".
"Ultimately, he went back to his seating area where, due to his behaviour, he was asked to leave," Mr Walton said.
"He was alone asked to leave, not his family or the other man with the children; but he decided, however, to leave with the children." It is unclear who the "other man", to whom Mr Walton referred, is.
"I'm confident that, if there was a need for a disabled person to go into an area where they didn't have a ticket or a proper purpose, they'd be facilitated," he said.
He said the grandstand was the only area that serves full-strength beer and the father did not have his daughter with him when he tried to gain access.
However, Mr Carroll wrote on Twitter, "If a young girl with special needs is not allowed to climb ten steps to the toilet she uses every other week, then what can I say.
"I was assaulted by security, threatened by a senior police officer screaming at me in front of my children as I sat on a terrace."
He wrote that his daughter had been left "traumatised" by the eviction.
"I was pumped for the game tonight," Mr Carroll said. "Taking the kids out on Mother's Day and on a school night ahead of NAPLAN this week.
"My daughter had not stopped taking [sic] about it and got dressed into her SFC gear after she finished her game this morning. Unfortunately that's not how our night ended.
"I had to console crying girls, and put up with multiple police cars monitoring my movements as we exited the stadium," he said.
"Enough is enough. Our stadium tonight was filled with first-time security guards, some clearly on power trips.
"Myself and my family were surrounded by a phalanx of armed police, with officers holding their hands to gun holsters."
Support for the family has swelled online, with many expressing sympathy or disgust. One supporter even offered to donate "money for any legal issues" the family might face.
"Please know that everyone is behind you and your family mate, Melbourne City's Scott Jamieson said.
NSW Police said in a statement that a male spectator was "spoken to by security about seating protocol", adding that "despite repeated requests, the man was unwilling to co-operate, and police assistance was sought".
'The man was spoken to by officers and after further refusals, was escorted from the stadium with his family."
Football Federation Australia board member Joseph Carrozzi said it planned to investigate the incident.
Sydney FC smashed Melbourne Victory 6-1 for a place in the grand final against Perth Glory next Sunday.
- SMH/The Age
with AAP
