WORCESTER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Three players and a coach are suspended from the Massachusetts Pirates indoor football team after three players brawled with fans in the stands this past weekend.
The brawl happened with about 32 seconds left on the clock at an away game against the Phoenix Rattlers in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday.
It's not clear exactly how the brawl started, but overhead cameras at the game suddenly panned to Pirates Defensive Back Leon O'Neal, who was arguing with fans in the crowd. The argument quickly descends into chaos when someone in the stands throws a punch and several other Massachusetts players climb over field barrier to get involved.
It took what looks like half a dozen Pirates staffers to break the fight up.
In a statement after the brawl, the Indoor Football League said it had indefinitely suspended three of the players in the fight and Pirates Coach Patrick Pass. The team had also been "substantially fined," IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon.
Pirates President Jawad Yatim said he wanted to "sincerely apologize," for his players' actions, but said that despite the "Massive lapse in judgement... their stories and journeys are not over, they can always lean on us for assistance. We don't turn our back on family."
WBZ's Drew Moholland (@DrewWBZ) has more:
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok