12 hours ago
Parents' footy fight is caught on video at U10s match - and as the sad aftermath with one of their sons is revealed
Shocking footage has emerged of two men squaring off in a heated altercation during an U10s footy match in Sydney this weekend.
Radio 2GB published footage on Monday appearing to show a parent and another individual - who the broadcaster said was a coach of one of the teams - appearing to fight on the pitch.
The incident is said to have taken place on Sunday during a game between the South Eastern Seagulls and the Redfern All Blacks at Heffron Park.
The coach was seen appearing to make contact with the parent, who was walking backwards.
The man, fell down to the ground in front of multiple junior players, leaving onlookers shocked.
Broadcaster Mark Levy revealed he had been in contact with the parent, who had opened up on the details of the tense spat, while speaking of his concern for the children of both sides.
Levy said the man had told him: 'Look, Mark, I'm just concerned for the kids because the fear in their eyes is heartbreaking.'
The man then heartbreakingly revealed that his son had told him after the game: 'Dad, I don't want to play anymore.'
Levy, then called for 'abuse, violence, intimidation' at junior footy matches around the country 'to stop', outraged by the video.
The radio broadcaster then revealed that he too has seen this sort of thing first hand on the pitch before, having previously refereed junior footy, but spoke of his concerns at why violence is continuing to happen at local footy matches.
'Kids sport on the weekend is supposed to be about having some fun and getting some exercise, but sadly, we've got these parents who are trying to fulfil their sporting dreams through their kids,' he added.
The video is the latest in a concerning rise in the number of ugly incidents taking place at junior footy matches, not just in Australia, but around the world.
In the UK last week, a clip of a woman went viral as she appeared to boo a young player who was taking a kick at goal during a junior BARLA semi-final match.
Back in February, Sydney team Fairfield Hotspurs had been hosting an Under 7s football tournament, when a mass brawl broke out on the touchline between spectators.
