Football Federation Australia said it is investigating an incident of a Sydney FC fan being ejected from the stadium during the A-League preliminary final, which was won by Sydney FC 6-1 against Melbourne Victory on Sunday.
Rory Carroll claims he was taking his daughter, who has a disability, to a bathroom in a restricted section, when the police got involved.
Video posted on social media shows security staff and NSW police officers speaking to Mr Carroll.
Part of the exchange can be heard, with Mr Carroll asking officers: "are you serious?".
Mr Carroll said he was assisting his daughter to the nearest bathroom for people with disabilities when the police intervened.
"The disabled toilets, because my daughter needs it, are right there and they won’t let me take my daughter through. That’s what this is all about?" he can be heard saying during the exchange.
"You guys want to kick me out because he said so (he points at a security guard) and I can’t take my disabled daughter five metres."
NSW Police Force said officers had escorted Mr Carroll out of the stadium and he had chosen to take his family with him.
'He tried to push his way in'
"During an A-League game held at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah this evening, being Sunday 12 May, a male spectator was spoken to by security about seating protocols," a NSW police spokesperson said.
NSW Police Force Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said the father was trying to access the grandstand on his own without a proper ticket.
"He tried to push his way into the grandstand area and that was sufficient for police to consider that he no longer needed to be there," Mr Walton said.
Mr Walton said the man was asked to leave on his own and his family were permitted to stay, but they all chose to leave.
The high-ranking police officer 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.
'Toilets were accessible within 25 metres'
A spokesperson for the Georges River Council said it is providing CCTV footage to NSW police.
The spokesperson defended police actions, saying that disabled toilet facilities were accessible "within approximately 25 metres from where he [Rory Carroll] was seated".
"The patron was attempting to gain forceful entry into a restricted area of the stadium which he did not have access to.
"At the time of the incident, he was not accompanied by any children.
"NSW police and security guards took appropriate action as despite repeated requests by security, the man was unwilling to cooperate and after further refusal was escorted from the stadium."
'I had to console crying girls'
Mr Carroll said the officers involved in the incident could have handled it better.
"Enough is enough. Our stadium tonight was filled with first-time security guards, some clearly on power trips," he said in a statement.
"The issues always start with security setting themselves against fans. Myself and my family were surrounded by a phalanx of armed police, with officers holding their hand to gun holsters."
"My daughter is traumatised," Mr Carroll said of the incident. "I had to console crying girls, and put up with multiple police cars monitoring my movements as we exited the stadium."
Football Federation Australia said in a statement on Monday that it is "aware of an incident last night where a Sydney FC fan was evicted from the stadium".
"Last night, both the FFA Head of Leagues, Greg O’Rourke, and Sydney FC CEO, Danny Townsend, spoke to the fan involved," the statement read.
"FFA and Sydney FC both made a commitment to the fan that they will raise this matter with NSW police and the venue security provider this morning to obtain further details about the incident.
"FFA has this morning spoken to the NSW police commander responsible to commence this investigation process."
'Not a good look'
Sydney FC goal scorer Aaron Calver said he was disappointed that this incident was overshadowing "one of our best performances of the year in one of the biggest games".
But he acknowledged that poor treatment of fans with special needs is not great for the image of football.
"To be honest, I don't know the story. But you never want to see that, it is not a good look for the game. So yeah, not a good look at all."
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John said the incident should trigger debate about improving access for people with disabilities at sports stadiums.
"This is absolutely not ok," he said on Twitter.
