A Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) match between the Milwaukee Wave and Tacoma Stars on Saturday descended into chaos when a huge fight broke out between players.
The Wave won the match 7-6 as 10 different players scored goals in the wild showdown. Milwaukee improved to 7-1-0 with the win and Tacoma fell to 1-5-2, but the big story of the night was the fight that broke out at the end of the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
A Milwaukee Wave fan waits for players after the Wave’s 9-2 victory over the Dallas Sidekicks in a MASL game on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee. (Dave Kallmann/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Milwaukee’s Mario Alvarez scored his second goal of the season to give the Wave the victory. The broadcast followed Tacoma’s Stefan Mijatovic as he shook hands with opposing players after the game. Mijatovic was shoved, leading to a heated incident. Wave goalie William Banahene appeared to be involved and was being held back.
As the drama unfolded, Wave striker Qudus Lawal was pushed to his own bench. He appeared to address Mijatovic from the bench. Lawal’s teammate, Javier Steinwascher, tried to bring him down and calm the situation, but it took a while for things to calm down.
Mijatovic broke free and appeared to chase a Wave player into the tunnel. It is not clear what happened in the tunnel.
The MASL on Tuesday announced suspensions for the players involved in the incident.
ELON MUSK IS INTERESTED IN BUYING A GREAT EUROPEAN SOCCER TEAM, HIS FATHER SAYS
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher, #97, scores against Dallas Sidekicks goalkeeper Juan Gamboa, #1, and forward Blas Pérez, #7, in a MASL game on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee. (Dave Kallmann/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Mijatovic received a four-game suspension “as a result of his conduct during and after the game, and for making unprofessional, offensive and abusive comments/language during and after the game.”
“In addition to the 4-match suspension (which will be served immediately), and due to the fact that Stefan Mijatovic was previously placed on league probation, Mijatovic will also receive an undisclosed fine, two (2) penalty points and” “I need to complete an anger management course and provide the league with a certificate of completion,” the league said.
Star players Román Torres and Luis Birrueta received a one-game suspension for the incident.
Wave players Lawal, Derek Huffman and Tenzin Rampa were also suspended for two games.
“All MASL players, staff and league personnel are expected to always demonstrate professionalism and self-discipline, regardless of whether extenuating circumstances exist,” the league said in a statement.
As of Thursday morning, the Wave were fourth in the standings and the Stars were 10th. The MASL has 12 teams in the league.
