Pitch invader banned for life from AFL/AFLW games

A fan who ran onto Marvel Stadium during the Collingwood-North Melbourne game and tried to re-enter the venue after he was ejected has been slapped with a lifetime AFL ban.

The man, who the league says is not a club or AFL member, ran onto the field during the last quarter of Sunday’s match.

He was ejected from the stadium and then was stopped when he tried to enter again through another entrance.

The league announced on Tuesday that he is banned for life from all AFL and AFLW matches, with the penalty to be reviewed after five years.

“Running onto the ground during a match is dangerous, senseless and unlawful,” AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.”As we reiterated earlier in the year, if you choose to do it you will have deal with local authorities and ultimately lose the privilege of attending AFL matches.”The league said the man also received two penalty notices from Victoria Police.

Earlier this year, a man was banned for running onto the field during the round-two match between the Crows and Geelong at Adelaide Oval.

Last month, a Collingwood fan was banned from games for the rest of the year after he leaned over the fence and grabbed West Coast player Harvey Johnston.