A Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) game between the Milwaukee Wave and the Tacoma Stars on Saturday descended into chaos when a huge brawl broke out between the players.
The Wave won the game 7-6 as 10 different players scored in the wild game. Milwaukee improved to 7-1-0 with the win and Tacoma dropped to 1-5-2, but the big story of the night was the fight that broke out at the end of the game.
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A Milwaukee Wave fan waits for players after the Wave’s 9-2 win over the Dallas Sidekicks in a MASL game 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 win. The broadcast followed Tacoma’s Stefan Mijatovic as he shook hands after the game. Mijatovic was pushed, sparking the heated incident. Wave goalie William Banahene appeared to be involved as well as being held back.
As drama ensued, Wave forward Qudus Lawal was pushed over to his own bench. He appeared to address Mijatovic while standing on the bench. Lawal’s teammate Javier Steinwascher tried to bring him down and de-escalate things, but it took a while for things to calm down.
Mijatovic broke free and appeared to chase a Wave player down the tunnel. It is unclear what happened in the tunnel.
The MASL announced suspensions for the players involved in the incident on Tuesday.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher, #97, scores past Dallas Sidekicks goalie Juan Gamboa, #1, and forward Blas Perez, #7, in a MASL match on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee. (Dave Kallmann/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Mijatovic was issued a four-game suspension “as a result of his in-game and post-game conduct and for making unprofessional, offensive and abusive language/comments in-game and post-game.”
“In addition to the 4-game suspension (which will be served immediately), and due to the fact that Stefan Mijatovic was previously placed on league probation, Mijatovic will also be issued an undisclosed fine, two (2) demerit points and will have to complete an anger management course and provide the league with a certificate of completion,” the league said.
Star players Roman Torres and Luis Birrueta were issued a one-match 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 exhibit professionalism and self-discipline at all times, regardless of whether extenuating circumstances exist,” the league said in a statement.
On Thursday morning, the Wave was in fourth place in the standings, and the Stars were in 10th place. The MASL has 12 teams in the league.
