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Brooklyn charity football match turns into mass brawl between police and firefighters | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A charity football match between New York City policemen and firefighters turned bloody when two brawls broke out on the field in the final minutes. | A charity football match between New York City policemen and firefighters turned bloody when two brawls broke out on the field in the final minutes. |
The game took a violent turn after a NYPD officer tackled a FDNY player near the end of the 44th annual Fun City Bowl - which benefits foundations for the families of first responders. | The game took a violent turn after a NYPD officer tackled a FDNY player near the end of the 44th annual Fun City Bowl - which benefits foundations for the families of first responders. |
Firefighters rushed to the aid of their teammate when the scuffle broke out near the NYPD sideline. | Firefighters rushed to the aid of their teammate when the scuffle broke out near the NYPD sideline. |
“They hit our quarterback out of bounds, and that’s how things started,” FDNY coach Steve Orr told the New York Post. “There were a lot of hotheads there.” | “They hit our quarterback out of bounds, and that’s how things started,” FDNY coach Steve Orr told the New York Post. “There were a lot of hotheads there.” |
Coaches and referees were able to break up the initial bout, but moments later a second brawl erupted in the middle of the field. | Coaches and referees were able to break up the initial bout, but moments later a second brawl erupted in the middle of the field. |
A freelance photographer for the New York NBC affiliate, Angel Zayas, captured video of one FDNY player emerge from the fracas with a bloody ear and torn jersey. | A freelance photographer for the New York NBC affiliate, Angel Zayas, captured video of one FDNY player emerge from the fracas with a bloody ear and torn jersey. |
“He was pulled out of the crowd, the FDNY guy,” Mr Zayas said. “It was trickling out the side, you could see the blood on the side of his head.” | “He was pulled out of the crowd, the FDNY guy,” Mr Zayas said. “It was trickling out the side, you could see the blood on the side of his head.” |
“I think one of the FDNY guys exchanged words with the NYPD player and then from there, I couldn't see what was happening, I just saw the crowds come around the player,” he said. “I heard it happening before I saw it happening.” | “I think one of the FDNY guys exchanged words with the NYPD player and then from there, I couldn't see what was happening, I just saw the crowds come around the player,” he said. “I heard it happening before I saw it happening.” |
The NYPD alluded to the mayhem in a statement released Monday. | The NYPD alluded to the mayhem in a statement released Monday. |
“Football is a competitive sport, whether it is the NFL Super Bowl or the annual NYPD-FDNY challenge,” they wrote. “It is part of the spirit of the sport, but it all ends on the field.” | “Football is a competitive sport, whether it is the NFL Super Bowl or the annual NYPD-FDNY challenge,” they wrote. “It is part of the spirit of the sport, but it all ends on the field.” |
New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton was reportedly at the game, but had left before the melee, the Post reported. | New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton was reportedly at the game, but had left before the melee, the Post reported. |
Mr Zayas said that once the second brawl dispersed, things seemed like they were back to normal. | Mr Zayas said that once the second brawl dispersed, things seemed like they were back to normal. |
“At the end, they were all talking, it was like water under the bridge,” he said. | “At the end, they were all talking, it was like water under the bridge,” he said. |
The NYPD’s Finest beat the FDNY’s Bravest 29–13. | The NYPD’s Finest beat the FDNY’s Bravest 29–13. |
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