The 2023 NPL Victoria Men’s Round 17 fixture between South Melbourne FC and Dandenong Thunder at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday 11 June 2023 was abandoned.
Match Officials determined there was insufficient lighting to continue the match. The fixture was abandoned at the end of the half-time break, prior to the second half kicking off.
South Melbourne FC is a hirer of Lakeside Stadium for NPL Victoria matches. Lakeside Stadium is operated by Melbourne Sports Centres. Melbourne Sports Centres has the exclusive control and management of stadium operations, including the stadium lighting.
Melbourne Sports Centres staff worked from shortly after the 4.03pm first half kick off to rectify the technical difficulties they were experiencing with their computers which control the lighting system. At 5.08pm the referees returned to the pitch for the second half and made the decision to delay the restart to allow stadium staff to resolve the lighting issue. Melbourne Sports Centres staff ultimately made the decision to manually activate each of the four lighting towers with the first tower coming on at 5.17pm and the fourth tower coming on at 5.28pm. At 5.30pm the referees made the decision to abandon the fixture. At 5.38pm the lighting towers reached their maximum available output.
As the match had not reached the 80% mark (72nd minute), the match result could not be declared. NPL Victoria regulations provide Football Victoria the discretion to determine the next steps including the method of replaying this fixture. These options include replaying the fixture in full, or replaying the fixture from the point when it was abandoned.
NPL Victoria has a dedicated catch-up round scheduled for the weekend of the 5th and 6th of August. The club will now await further guidance from Football Victoria for the replay of this fixture and will provide updates as information is available.
South Melbourne FC apologises to all members, supporters and spectators of this fixture for the inconvenience experienced by the failure of the lighting system at Lakeside Stadium.
Update 3.25pm Monday 12 June
Football Victoria has advised this match will be replayed on Tuesday 13 June at 8pm at Lakeside Stadium.
The game will resume with the commencement of the second half with the score at 2-1 to South Melbourne. All goals and yellow cards recorded in the first half will stand. Both teams are required to field the same players as per the original team sheets with the substitutes listed to remain the same.