Islamabad, April 4, 2025: Security at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is set to be tightened after two men managed to enter the iconic stadium with firearms.
The incident happened during an Australian Rules football match on Thursday — an incident officials have described as deeply concerning.
The breach occurred during a high-profile match between Collingwood and Carlton, attended by over 82,000 spectators.
Police confirmed that a 21-year-old and a 27-year-old were found in possession of guns after they refused to leave the venue due to their disruptive behaviour.
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Both men were arrested and have been charged with firearms offences and other related charges.
Authorities revealed that the weapons had initially been detected by screening equipment at the entrance, but the staff failed to carry out a proper secondary check.
MCG CEO Stuart Fox acknowledged the lapse and announced that the venue would strengthen its manual search procedures for upcoming events.
He stated that fans might face minor delays due to the increased security checks but stressed that safety remained the top priority.
Fox added that coordination with Victoria Police, the AFL, and security teams would continue to ensure robust procedures are followed.
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AFL CEO Andrew Dillon also expressed disappointment, pointing out that over 1.2 million fans had attended matches this season without major security issues.
He assured the public that every effort would be made to maintain stadiums as safe and welcoming spaces for all attendees.
Dillon confirmed that both men involved in the incident would be handed lifetime bans from attending AFL matches.
Victoria Police stated that the two accused were already on bail at the time of the offence.
Following their arrest, both men were held in custody and are scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
Authorities now face renewed pressure to review existing protocols and ensure such lapses do not occur again.
