Department of Education spokesperson Margie Feinberg told The Post Monday afternoon that the Madison and FDR boys soccer teams will both forfeit two games in response to last Wednesday’s brawl at the Parade Grounds in Brooklyn. A player from each team will also be suspended two additional games for their roles in the brawl.
“The decision was made by the PSAL to have [the] teams and two players forfeit games following an investigation into the incidents,” Feinberg said.
PSAL boys soccer commissioner Vito Rizzi, Madison soccer coach Nick Punzone and FDR’s Martin Gottesman were not immediately available for comment.
The forfeits greatly impact Brooklyn A West. FDR and Madison were even at 5-1-0 atop the division, but the two losses put Sheepshead Bay and Fort Hamilton, who trails FDR and Madison by three points, in the mix.
The melee began in the postgame handshake following FDR’s emotional 3-2 victory. As the FDR players made their way down the line in front of the Madison bench, two pairs of players from opposing teams separated from the lines and exchanged punches. With no police or NYPD school safety officers present, numerous fans and spectators began spilling on the field, causing a wild scene.
Knights senior Yauhen Malko said he had to run away from three men who were chasing after him. His teammates and coaches were unable find him for at least 15 to 20 minutes after the incident occurred. Five Madison players later filed police reports because of minor physical injuries they suffered.
At one point Gottesman and Knights senior Petro Turiy went tumbling to the ground together. Gottesman said that he was the one taken down in a headlock, while Turiy later told police, who were called to the scene by Madison for protection, that it was Gottesman who went after him.
Madison and FDR are set to meet again, at Madison, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m.
