CA soccer game turns violent as fans of rival teams brawl
This is the moment a friendly game in California between former players of two professional Mexican soccer clubs turns violent during halftime as dozens of fans rush to the field and brawl.
The unsettling video shows fans at the Eddie West Field in Santa Ana, California, on Sunday, funneling onto the pitch before punching and kicking one another repeatedly, the Orange County Register reported.
One man was hurt so badly he appears unconscious in the middle of the pitch.
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This is the moment a friendly game at the Eddie West Field in Santa Ana, California becomes violent as dozens of fans of two rival Mexican teams rush to the field to fight
The video shows the men kicking and punching each other. One man was so hurt he appears unconscious as he lies on the pitch
Santa Ana police commander Jeffrey Smith says about 50 fans descended from the stands after the first half ended, just after 2.15pm.
The ‘game of legends’ between former Club America and Pumas players Sunday was intended to benefit Santa Ana-based United Soccer Talents Foundation, which supports soccer players, the OCR reports.
Police officers and security guards were on site but could hardly contain the violent fans. They resorted to spraying pepper spray among the large groups, and one officer could be seen beating one of the fans on the field with his baton.
Eventually, the brawl disperses and the officers try to apprehend the attackers.
The footage shows one officer chasing after a fan who escaped by a hair when he jumped back onto the stands.
Police arrested five men who participated in the brawl. Pictured here are Fernando Vargas, 34, of La Puente (left) and Jose Velez of Los Angeles
Eventually, the brawl disperses and the officers try to apprehend the attackers. Even though many managed to get away, police managed to also arrest Israel Zarate, 36, of Pasadena
Josue Garcia (left) , 29, of Santa Ana and Ricardo Abarca (right), 23, of Anaheim were also arrested
The rest of the game was canceled and police arrested five men at the scene.
They’ve been charged with assault and battery, assault with a deadly weapon, inciting a riot, or resisting arrest, OCR reported.
The men arrested are Josue Andres Rosas Garcia, Fernando Alberto Vargas, Israel Rodriguez Zarate Ricardo Anotnion Mora Abarca and Jose Joaquin Velez.
At the time the brawl unfolded, Club America was leading 2-1. The two teams have had a history of rivalry for decades and their supporters are known to be some of the most violent in Mexico.
The better known players at the game included former Mexican national team members Luis Roberto ‘Zague’ Alves and Alberto Garcia Aspe, Paraguay’s Salvador Cabanas, Chile’s Fabian Estay and Colombia’s Andres Chitiva.
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