Football Notes: Fans Light Flares Before Start Of A-League Grand Final

Fans with lit flares kicked off a "rowdy start to the A-League grand final, with police making several arrests before the match had even begun." But police "still praised the behaviour of the vast majority of fans since only a vocal minority were responsible for scenes that led to arrests for drug possession, interfering with police, and assault." Hundreds of Melbourne Victory fans "had stopped traffic on Punt Road on Sunday while marching to AAMI Park before their team claimed the 3-0 win against Sydney FC" (THE AGE, 5/17). ... League One side Sheffield United midfielder Jose Baxter has been suspended by the club after he failed a drug test. A club statement announced that "traces of a banned substance" were found when Baxter underwent FA testing. The club said that Baxter, 23, who began his career at Everton, is "protesting his innocence" (LONDON TIMES, 5/16).