A Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) match between the Milwaukee Wave and Tacoma Stars on Saturday descended into chaos as a huge brawl broke out between players.
The Wave won the match 7-6 as 10 different players scored goals in a wild match. 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 brawl 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 victory over the Dallas Sidekicks in a MASL match 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 pushed, which sparked a violent incident. Wave goalkeeper William Banahene appeared to be involved and he was restrained.
As the drama ensued, Wave forward Qudus Lawal was pushed onto his own bench. He appeared to address Mijatovic as he stood on the bench. Lawal’s teammate Javier Steinwascher tried to calm him down and defuse the situation, but it took a while for things to calm down.
Mijatovic broke free and appeared to chase a Wave player down the tunnel. It’s not clear what exactly happened in the tunnel.
The MASL announced suspensions Tuesday for the players involved in the incident.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher, #97, drives past Dallas Sidekicks goalkeeper Juan Gamboa, #1, and forward Blas Perez, #7, during a MASL match on Tuesday 31 December 2024 at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee. (Dave Kallmann/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Mijatovic was suspended for four matches “due to his conduct during and after the match, and for making unprofessional, offensive and abusive language/comments during and after the match.”
“In addition to the 4-match suspension (which will be served immediately), and due to the fact that Stefan Mijatovic has already been placed on league probation, Mijatovic will also be issued with an undisclosed fine, two (2) penalty points and will be “We must 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 suspended one match for the incident.
Wave players Lawal, Derek Huffman and Tenzin Rampa were also suspended for two games.
“All MASL players, staff and league personnel must always demonstrate professionalism and self-discipline, whether or not there are extenuating circumstances,” the league said in a statement.
Thursday morning, the Wave were in fourth place in the standings and the Stars were in 10th. The MASL has 12 teams in the league.
