Brawl caught on video after A-grade rugby league match in western Sydney
Police have condemned the actions of a crowd of men who were captured on video locked in a horrifying brawl after a rugby league match.
A senior police officer has criticised the actions of a group of men involved in a terrifying brawl that broke out after an A-grade rugby league game in western Sydney, with one man now charged.
The fight broke out 30 minutes after the Lalor Park Kookas took home a narrow victory 28-24 against the Berala Bears at Chester Hill on Sunday afternoon.
The video shows a crowd of more than a dozen men – many wearing team jerseys – locked in a tight circle as those at the centre throw powerful punches.
Detective Superintendent Adam Johnson said he was shocked by what he saw in the video.
“It’s totally unacceptable, there are clearly people who haven’t got their emotions in check and they've got issues with their anger,” he told reporters on Monday.
A 21-year-old man from Merrylands was taken into police custody and on Monday was charged with affray and behave in offensive manner in/near public place/school.
He’s been granted conditional bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 13.
Superintendent Johnson said police expected more arrests would be made as more people were identified.
In less than a minute of video, the brawl moves through a carpark and onto the edge of the field as multiple men appear to pursue a man wearing a jersey.
By the time officers arrived on the scene, the brawl had broken up and the group had dispersed.
Police believe the brawl involved members of the two teams.
Investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward to police.
The NSW Rugby League released a statement to The Daily Telegraph, saying it had a zero-tolerance approach towards violent and abusive conduct towards players, officials and spectators.
“The incident will be reviewed (on Monday) by the NSWRL in conjunction with Canterbury-Bankstown District Junior Rugby League and Parramatta Junior Rugby League,” a spokesperson said.
“The review will take into account any video footage as well as reports from the ground manager, referees and any eyewitnesses.”
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