Fifty fans in footy brawl ahead of Anthony Mundine’s return to footy

Anthony Mundine’s return to local rugby league was overshadowed moments before kick-off when a violent brawl broke out among spectators.

A community rugby league game erupted in violence just moments before boxing legend Anthony “The Man” Mundine took the field, with a group of 50 spectators in a huge brawl.

While Mundine was in the locker room preparing to run on the field with the Kogarah Cougars at Todd Park in Blakehurst, a man started yelling to another man from the car park around 2.30pm on Saturday.

The confrontation took a violent turn when the two men clashed by the side of the football field, punching each other as shocked spectators and children watched on.

More and more spectators joined in the brawl with police and NSW Ambulance officers called to the fracas.

Brawl breaks out before Anthony Mundine’s return to football. Exclusive News Corp photos.

The brawl happened at Todd Park in Blakerhust. Exclusive News Corp photos.

Video shows multiple people kicking and punching each other in the brawl, which spilt onto the football field and halted play. The crowd was dispersed with no arrests made and no injuries.

The drama only slightly delayed the triumphant return of Mundine to his local team, playing with the Cougars against Como Jannali in the South Sydney A-Grade game.

Multiple people were involved in the brawl. Exclusive News Corp photos.

The brawl delayed the return of Anthony Mundine. Exclusive News Corp photos.

Spectators were shocked at the ferocity of the brawl. Exclusive News Corp photos.

Mundine, 48, lives nearby and the game marked his second game since retiring from the NRL in 2000. He wore his trademark number six jersey and played for the opening 15 minutes before being replaced. Read what Mundine had to say about his return.