A Major Arena Football League (MASL) game between the Milwaukee Wave and the Tacoma Stars on Saturday degenerated into a violent brawl between the players.
The Wave won the game 7-6, with 10 different players scoring goals during the eventful match. Milwaukee thus reaches a record of 7 victories and 1 defeat, while Tacoma is at 1 victory and 5 defeats, but the highlight of the evening remains the fight which broke out at the end of the match.
A Milwaukee Wave fan waits for players after the 9-2 victory against the Dallas Sidekicks in a MASL match Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Mario Alvarez, Wave player, scored his second goal of the season, allowing his team to win. The broadcast followed Tacoma’s Stefan Mijatovic, who shook hands with opposing players after the game. He was then pushed, which triggered the incident. Wave goalie William Banahene also appeared involved, being held back by his teammates.
As tensions rose, Wave player Qudus Lawal was pushed to his team’s bench. He appeared to address Mijatovic from there. His teammate Javier Steinwascher tried to bring him down to calm the situation, without much success at first.
Mijatovic eventually escaped and appeared to chase a Wave player down the lane. What happened in the hallway remains unclear.
The MASL announced suspensions for the players involved in the incident on Tuesday.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher, #97, scores a goal against Dallas Sidekicks goalkeeper Juan Gamboa, #1, and forward Blas Perez, #7, during a MASL match on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee.
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Mijatovic was handed a four-match suspension “due to his conduct during and after the match, as well as for comments deemed unprofessional, offensive and abusive.” The league clarified that “in addition to this suspension, Mijatovic will be issued an undisclosed fine, two penalty points and will be required to complete an anger management course, with an obligation to provide a certificate of completion to the league.”
Stars players Roman Torres and Luis Birrueta received one-match suspensions for their involvement in the incident.
Wave players Lawal, Derek Huffman and Tenzin Rampa received a two-match suspension.
The league reiterated that “all MASL players, staff and representatives must always demonstrate professionalism and self-discipline, regardless of the situation.”
Currently, as of Thursday morning, the Wave are in fourth place in the standings, while the Stars are in tenth position. The MASL has a total of 12 teams.
In conclusion, this incident highlights the need for strict regulation in professional sport, in order to preserve team spirit and mutual respect between players. What do you think about the measures that should be put in place to ensure a safer gaming environment?
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