Sport brawls: Footage of the wildest and craziest fights and moments
The ugliest parts of sport are again in the spotlight following another violent brawl. This is the hall of shame. WATCH THE VIDEOS
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Life bans, long-term injuries and painful memories.
The ugliest parts of sport are again in the spotlight following a violent brawl at a Toowoomba rugby league match in August 2023.
There was also a savage “dog shot” in a rugby league match in Cairns which prompted investigations from officials.
The recent incidents only add to the growing list of chaotic sporting incidents from local sporting competitions across Australia – here is the fallout from some moments of madness.
■ WATCH: Brawls and bans: Aussie rules’ dark side caught on camera
■ ‘What happened to our great game’: Sport’s biggest issue
MAY 2008
A junior rugby league coach quit in disgust following a shocking junior footy brawl in a Cairns District Junior Rugby League under-15s match between Brothers and Mossman.
The fight, which occurred during a regular season match at Mossman, started between opposing wingers but quickly escalated into an ugly melee involving several players and even water carriers. A Mossman player reportedly left the field bleeding from his face.
Officials called off the match and awarded the points to Mossman due to a Brothers’ bench player running on to the field to join the fray.
Mossman coach Roy Zammataro, who had coached local juniors for eight years, resigned in the wake of the incident, citing unacceptable violence.
Two Brothers players were suspended for seven and five weeks, while the injured Mossman player was found guilty but discharged without penalty.
No one was charged over the incident.
MAY 2008
Two footy mums were banned from attending junior rugby league games after the parents got into a punch-up at a game between Edmonton Storm and Central Scorpions.
League officials slammed the women’s behaviour following the 2008 incident.
“It was just amazing, punches were thrown,” an Edmonton rugby league official, who declined to be named, said at the time.
“They were both Edmonton Storm parents. It is just a ridiculous situation that should never have occurred.”
The official said the parents had carried over an argument from the week before and while they did leave the grounds, children followed them to witness the fracas.
“It is just not acceptable in junior sport, we point that out all of the time,” the official said. “We have zero tolerance for violence.”
No one was charged over the incident.
JULY 2013
A Logan Brothers under-18 rugby league player, whose team was involved in an all-in-brawl against Browns Plains, claimed a spectator attacking a player sparked a fight involving dozens.
Benjamin Kelly said an on-field fight escalated to involve the public after a spectator attacked one of three players sent from the field following a brawl in the opening minutes of the Logan Brothers-Browns Plains clash in Logan.
“After three players were sent off, they proceeded to niggle and taunt each other as tensions were high,’’ Kelly said at the time.
“A stare-off for dominance turned violent quickly as a spectator, that I believe has remained unnamed, ran into the mix and punched one of the Logan Brothers sent off players in the back of the head, then proceeded to punch into him.’’
Kelly said it was not long before more spectators than players were fighting.
“We arrived hoping to turn our season around with a victory over rivals Browns Plains,’’ he said.
“ … I don’t understand how this could of started such a heartbreaking thing to watch and experience, yet it did.’’
No one was charged over the incident.
JUNE 2015
A soccer coach found guilty of entering the field of play during a brawl between players was banned for a year.
Football Federation SA’s disciplinary committee punished Eastern United coach Diego Pellegrini for his part in a melee during a State League match with Adelaide Cobras at Athelstone Recreation Reserve.
The committee barred Pellegrini from coaching on match days for 12 months, with an additional 12-month ban suspended for two years.
The referee abandoned the game in about the 70th minute following the incident.
Cobras were leading 4-3 and the result will stand. Eastern United was fined $3000 for the incident.
Football Federation SA CEO Michael Carter said the brawl was “unacceptable”.
No police charges were laid over the incident.
SEPTEMBER 2016
The Queensland Rugby League came down hard on Wests and Burrum after a brawl in the under-15 preliminary final.
The QRL handed down 12 charges after a completing its investigation.
Six players from Burrum and three from Wests were suspended for between six and 12 matches in all competitions.
The QRL also forced every player suspended to complete an anti-social education program before being able to play in the following season’s competition.
The association handed a notice to each club and coach telling them that they would be kicked out of the competition if there was a repeat.
Bundaberg Junior Rugby League chairman Wayne Bender said there was a zero tolerance policy and those in the wrong had now been punished.
“While some processes and decisions are yet to be finalised the Bundaberg Junior Rugby League focus has now shifted to the weekend grand finals and ensuring this is a positive experience for all those that attend,” he said.
No one was charged over the incident.
JULY 2019
A Townsville schoolboy was knocked out in a violent brawl during an Aussie rules game, leaving his mother to demand AFL Queensland crack down on player behaviour.
Sixteen-year-old Northern Suns player Tayten Norris suffered concussion, a black eye, back and neck pain after he was injured when a fight broke out during the under-17s AFL Townsville match against the Garbutt Bombers.
His mum, Kaylah Steven, said after a controversial call, someone yelled out “shots on” and the violence erupted.
“I was on the sideline and it happened very quickly,” she said.
“There was another boy on our team nowhere near the fight and someone came up behind and punched him in the face.
“My son was punched in the face, then he was dragged to the ground and had four of them on him, punching him, kicking him, stomping on him.”
Tayten had to take time off school to recover and has been told not to wear his club colours in public because another Northern Suns player was allegedly targeted after the incident.
The game was called off and the incident was referred to AFL Queensland.
“The way that the whole thing has been handled is a shambles,” Ms Steven said.
No one was charged over the incident.
FEBRUARY 2021
A South Australian local cricket association refused to publicly reveal the results of an investigation into an on-field brawl where a player was sent to hospital.
However the Grand Masters Cricket Club said its hospitalised player, who was acting as an umpire, was suspended for the remainder of the season.
The alleged incident occurred in a Para Districts Cricket Association LO1 match between Salisbury North and Grand Masters at Victoria Park on January 16, 2021.
Police and paramedics were called to the game after a “heated verbal altercation had occurred between an umpire and players”.
The umpire, who was also a Grand Masters player but acting as an official, sustained an injury to his nose.
Almost a month after the incident, Para District Cricket Association president Andrew Quinlish said “the matter has been dealt with (and) no further comment will be made”.
No charges were laid over the incident.
APRIL 2023
A football club president called for lifetime bans for spectators involved in a late-game brawl in a Rockhampton Rugby League fixture.
Several people were allegedly involved in the incident, which happened in the closing stages of the A-grade men’s game between the Yeppoon Seagulls and the Emu Park Emus.
Video was released which showed that it was spectators, not players involved.
The game ended in a 20-20 draw.
Yeppoon president Steven Stafford said he was “extremely disappointed” about what happened, and that the club would be looking to ramp up security on game days.
“It was very, very poor behaviour on their behalf,” he said.
“If I find out – and I will – these people will be banned from coming to games altogether.
“They won’t come through these gates again.
“This behaviour is certainly not condoned. It was just a case of a few idiots.
“It looks like we have to play hardball on those people who think they can do whatever they wish.”
No one was charged over the incident.
APRIL 2023
Former NRL player Curtis Scott accepted an early guilty plea and was banned for three matches for his bush footy punch up.
Video of the incident showed the former Raiders and Storm star reacting to an alleged eye gouge playing for Thirlmere against Narellan Jets.
Scott was sent off on a striking charge and directed to front the NSWRL match review committee.
The video shows Scott throwing wild blows before other players run in.
His Thirlmere teammate Blake Ferguson claimed the next day he had been gouged.
Scott can be seen being roughed up on the ground before retaliating.
Former NRL star Bryce Gibbs backed up Ferguson’s claim, with Scott spotted in Cronulla with swelling around his right eye.
Scott was playing at five-eighth for Thirlmere in their 60-10 win over the Narellan Jets.
No one was charged over the incident.
APRIL 2023
Noosa Dolphins player and former Queensland Reds star Rod ‘Rocket’ Davies was suspended for seven games after being sent off in Round 1 of the Sunshine Coast rugby union a-grade competition.
Davies, who joined the Dolphins in 2021, was red-carded in the 82nd minute after he was allegedly seen punching Maroochydore Swans opposition player Sam Pavlich on April 2.
Spectators said Pavlich hit Davies off the ball and took him to the ground, before a scuffle broke out and Davies allegedly punched Pavlich several times.
Maroochydore was awarded a penalty that saw the team convert the match-winning field goal for the game to finish 16-15.
Davies fronted the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union judiciary panel, where he was given a seven match suspension.
No one was charged over the incident.
APRIL 2023
Footage of a violent brawl between a coach and a touch judge at an under-11s rugby league match was circulated online, with parents at the match labelling the punch-up “disgusting behaviour”.
The incident occurred on April 30 following a game between the Redcliffe Dolphins and the North Devils at the Dolphins’ home ground.
A parent of one of the players who wished to remain anonymous said the tension between the Redcliffe Dolphins coach and the North Devils touch judge was “building” throughout the game.
“I was bringing back the tee when I look to my left and see the coach and the touch judge going blow for blow, they were just having a real punch-up,” he said.
“Once it started going everyone was getting involved and I just remembered thinking ‘what is going on?’.
“My 11-year-old son was watching it and it first he said to me that the touch judge deserved, like kids, do but come the Monday he was a bit rattled and shaken up.
“As a coach you learn to block out the noise, it’s just a disgusting act. So unacceptable.”
The men involved in the incident can be heard screaming profanities at each other while bystanders attempt to pull them apart.
The video also captures others screaming, “this is a f***ing kids game.”
A spokesman from the Queensland Rugby League confirmed an investigation into the circumstances of the brawl had been commenced.
JUNE 2023
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas star player Tyrone Roberts was hit with a huge suspension following a judiciary hearing for his actions against Jamberoo in May 2023.
The NSWRL handed down an 18-game ban for the incident, where Roberts was found guilty of serious striking charges and a careless high tackle.
With the Group 7 regular season running for 18 games, it was an effective year-long ban.
Group 7 communications and operations manager Ashton Sims said it was a nasty incident for the league.
“It’s no secret that it was not a great scene there. That’s why it was referred straight to the NSWRL judiciary,” Sims said.
“Warilla were respectful and Tyrone was remorseful in there. He knows he did wrong, and that incident isn’t indicative of the true fabric of the Warilla Gorillas.“I spoke to Tyrone. He knows what he did was wrong, and he’s held himself accountable.”
JULY 2023
A top-level women’s soccer game erupted into a brawl with allegations one player was “king hit” during the punch-fest at Penrith.
Match reports submitted to Nepean Football Association allege at least 18 players were involved in the fracas, which spectators have described as “a disgrace”.
The Penrith fracas involved players from the first grade Emu Plains and Jamisontown Ruby League all-age women’s competition and started after a player from Emu Plains was fouled.
She was allegedly pushed by a Jamisontown player triggering what referee Allan Jones described in the incident report as an “all in” brawl.
NSW Police said they were aware of the incident on July 2.
A police spokesperson said the incident was handled by the football club, and that no reports were made or charges laid.
JULY 2023
Dozens of parents were involved in ugly scenes at a Townsville under-9s league game.
A concerned parent of one of the players, who did not wish to be identified to protect the identity of their child, said the behaviour was “just not on”.
At 7pm Souths RLFC and Brothers Townsville RLFC kicked off in an under-9s, mixed boys and girls match.
The game was held at Townsville and District Junior Rugby League grounds in Kirwan, however the match was suspended after about 30 fathers entered the field of play.
The concerned parent said he saw a parent on the ground being kicked and punched.
“You had several scuffles. Kids don’t need to witness violence.”
“I’m really angry at the parents.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed no incidents were reported.
Rugby League Townsville and District chairman Roger Whyte said that sort of behaviour was not tolerated.
The QRL in August banned those involved from attending games for up to 15 years each, following a tribunal ruling from the Northern League chair.
JULY 2023
An off-field fight between members of two Darwin-based cricket clubs sparked an investigation from the National Sports Tribunal.
The physical encounter occurred between representatives of each club near the end of day one of the Premier Grade game at Kahlin Oval on July 8.
It followed Southern Districts’ innings with the side declaring after posting a score of 9/247, before they bowled the Eagles out for 10/194 a week later.
It was referred to the tribunal following an initial meeting between parties concerned under the Northern Cricket Member Protection Policy.
The incident was handled by NT Cricket rather than the competition as it did not occur during or on the field play.
In May 2023 seven players were suspended following an unprecedented two weekends of bad behaviour in Darwin cricket, while more sanctions were issued in June.
AUGUST 2023
A wild brawl at a junior soccer game that began on-field before moving into the stands in Sydney’s western suburbs shocked onlookers.
Shocking video captured the moment punches flew at the game between Granville Rage and Camden Tigers at Rydalmere Park, before overflowing into the stands – with spectators then becoming involved.
One woman could be seen at the centre of the fight in the video, throwing punches at one man’s face and then grabbing another individual in a headlock.
Police believe a player left the field and attacked a man in the crowd, who had to be taken to hospital. No charges were laid.
AUGUST 2023
Two Sydney football clubs were fined over a brawl that broke out among players and club officials in front of spectators at a suburban soccer pitch.
Macarthur Rams FC and Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC each copped a $500 infringement over a melee involving players and two team officials from the Macarthur Rams on February 11.
The incident unfolded in front of spectators who turned out at Lynwood Park in Campbelltown to watch the men’s League One first grade match.
The game turned ugly when several players from both sides began engaging in the fight that broke out in the 94th minute of the game.
The Football NSW tribunal – which investigated the incident and issued the fines – found the brawl was instigated after Macarthur’s head coach Brett Hewit entered the field of play prior to the completion of the match.
No one was charged over the incident.
AUGUST 2023
A senior Toowoomba rugby league game was sensationally cancelled by officials after an ugly brawl erupted and led to altercations between the crowd and players.
After a tense and at times fiery first half tensions boiled over between Valleys Roosters and Oakey Bears in the second stanza of the TRL A-Grade fixture in Toowoomba.
A longtime TRL supporter described ‘ugly’ scenes during the game at Valleys’ John McDonald Sports Complex, with players involved in scuffles on the field before some reportedly turned their attention to supporters.
“There was a fair bit of push and shove in the first half and Oakey looked a bit firey,” the spectator said.
“Oakey just lost the plot.”
Toowoomba Rugby League chairman Joe Hannant said they were aware of the incident and an investigation was underway.
No one has been charged over the incident.
AUGUST 2023
The Yarrabah youngster at the centre of a late hit which has caused an uproar in Cairns rugby league circles has been referred directly to the judiciary.
Teenage Mareeba halfback Noah Blooranta was knocked out after copping what appeared to be an elbow to the back of his head while scoring a try about 20 minutes into an A-grade clash at Davies Park.
Before he could get to his feet, Yarrabah defender Thauki Satrick clocked the back of his head with a vicious shot which knocked out the 17-year-old.
Blooranta regained his feet and walked assisted from the field about two minutes after the contact.
But it’s understood the young rising star suffered delayed concussion symptoms, including memory loss, in the half-hour after the incident and was taken to hospital, where he stayed until early the next morning.
Satrick is facing an extended stint on the sideline for the contact, which will go directly before a Queensland Rugby League tribunal.
No one has been charged over the incident.
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