Not to be out-testosteroned by a mob of local Soccer hooligans, members of the NYPD and FDNY football teams launched into a brawl Sunday afternoon during the closing minutes of a charity game at Coney Island's MCU Park. The Post reports that a member of the police team "viciously tackled a firefighter during the meaningless final minutes," setting off multiple fights that left faces bloodied and jerseys torn.
Dozens of players from both the Fire and Police Department teams were involved in the fight. "They hit our quarterback out of bounds, and that's how things started," FDNY coach Steve Orr told the paper. Bronx firefighter Tom Slane was escorted with a bloodied ear and face.
As for the results of the game itself, the NYPD claimed victory of the firefighters, 29-13. The Daily News reports that a second fight broke out as players were lining up to shake hands following the game. Sportsmanship!
In videos of the fights, one team's coach can be heard off-screen asking the grown-ass men to stop acting like children. "Yo, listen up," he says, "don't embarrass yourselves, you hear me?" Hyperaggressive officers embarrassing the city? When has that ever happened?
Congrats to @FinestFootball for their 29-13 win over @FDNY. A great game played by all for a great cause. pic.twitter.com/ndTIY6ZdPQ
— Commissioner Bratton (@CommissBratton) May 23, 2016
In a statement, the NYPD assured that it's all just a part of the game. "Football is a competitive sport, whether it is the NFL Super Bowl or the annual NYPD-FDNY challenge. It is part of the spirit of the sport, but it all ends on the field," the police said. If the scene of New York's Finest pummeling New York's Bravest seems familiar, that's because only two years ago, members of the police and fire department teams got into a massive fight—on a hockey rink!