Chaos erupted after an amateur soccer game in Irvine, California, this past weekend when players and parents got involved in a nasty brawl.
The fight was between two teams that play in the United Premier Soccer League, which is sometimes considered the fourth tier of the U.S. Soccer pyramid.
Irvine Zeta FC II was a younger team that upset the undefeated Club Garrafones 2-1. After the final whistle scuffles turned to skirmishes which devolved into an all-out brawl.
One of Irvine’s 16-year-old players suffered a broken nose in the fight after the game and will need surgery.
Irvine soccer fight
Bryan Wallace is the head coach of Irvine’s team and said that the opposing team attacked first, reported the LA Times.
“One of their players came up and punched my player,” Wallace said. “That started the entire thing. Their team and their parents and a bunch of guys on their bench just started attacking.
“One of their coaches attacked the goalkeeper. One of the other coaches attacked and kicked a parent. That to me is mind-blowing. We are supposed to set an example of how to act.”
In response to the fight the UPSL removed Club Garrafones from the league and gave the organization and coaching staff a lifetime ban.
