AFL clears West Coast Eagles star Liam Ryan of wrongdoing during festival brawl

West Coast Eagles premiership player Liam Ryan, who was involved in a brawl at a music festival last month, has been cleared of any wrongdoing after video footage of the incident surfaced. The Australian Football League (AFL) released a statement on Monday saying no further action would be taken against the 28-year-old, stating he was the victim in the incident.

Video shared on social media appeared to show Ryan involved in a street fight with several people after a festival in Fremantle on January 17. The AFL Integrity Unit and Western Australian Police conducted investigations into the incident.

The league’s statement noted that both the AFL Integrity Unit and WA Police had concluded that Ryan and his companions were “attacked by a larger group of people” as they were leaving the event. The statement also mentioned, “WA Police have confirmed to the AFL that police were in the immediate vicinity at the time, and Ryan was deemed a witness to an incident where his group was pursued by a larger group, resulting in one of his female companions being assaulted and suffering facial injuries.”

The statement further clarified, “It has been determined that Ryan attempted to defuse the situation and avoid the group, and was only drawn into the brawl captured on social media after being provoked.” It is understood that Ryan had not been drinking that night. Last season, Ryan missed the Eagles’ first six games. In the 16 games he played, he kicked 13 goals as the West Coast Eagles struggled to five wins, finishing 16th on the ladder, ahead of only North Melbourne and Richmond.