A girls’ flag football tournament in Revere, Massachusetts, erupted into chaos Saturday when a referee and coach traded blows on the field, forcing horrified parents to step in and keep the adults apart, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Referee Jeff Etienne, who has officiated flag football games for 20 years, scuffled with an unnamed member of the Massachusetts Outlaws coaching staff during the game, WCVB reported. The dispute began after the coach became upset with an officiating decision.
The Outlaws said the coach was “frustrated with calls being made and was questioning a call about blitzes that were originally in our favor and then flipped to the other team’s favor within the course of one play.”
Witnesses told WCVB that the coach yelled in Etienne’s face before the referee pushed him. What began as a disagreement over a call quickly became a physical confrontation in front of the young players and their families.
“The situation unfortunately escalated quickly and got physical,” the team said. “The game was stopped at that point.”
Etienne and the coach then had to be kept apart as parents moved in to control the ugly scene. At one point, parents pinned the Outlaws coach to the ground before eventually leading him away from the field.
“I was outraged. I was totally outraged,” one grandparent, who asked not to be identified, told WCVB.
The altercation unfolded during the Ghost Town Showdown tournament at Harry Della Russo Stadium, a venue known as “The Boneyard.” The tournament included girls divisions beginning at six and under.
The source did not indicate whether Etienne or the coach suffered any injuries during the altercation. The game had already been stopped once the confrontation turned physical.
Etienne later acknowledged that his own response contributed to the rapid escalation. He said his usual approach when coaches become angry is to walk away rather than engage with them.
“I do take responsibility,” Etienne said. “Just like [the] many other times that I’ve had coaches yell at me, I’ve walked away from it.
“That’s what I should have done. This sort of situation should never happen in youth sports.
“It should never ever be that serious. We’re not playing for millions of dollars.
“We’re not playing in the NFL.”
After tempers cooled somewhat, Etienne and the coach apologized to each other. The apologies came after parents had already been forced to intervene and the girls’ tournament had been disrupted by the confrontation.
The Massachusetts clash was not the only recent physical incident involving adults at a children’s football game. In late August, coaches from rival Pennsylvania teams were recorded brawling, and three people were charged following that confrontation.
Carlynton coach DeQuay Canton was charged with a third-degree misdemeanor and is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on Nov. 25, according to CBS.
Joseph Kubiak and Frank McGrath, who were part of the Keystone Oaks coaching setup, each faced a summary disorderly conduct citation. The Massachusetts account did not report any charges stemming from the confrontation between Etienne and the Outlaws coach.