15-year-old ‘seriously injured’ in fight after Moncton soccer game

RCMP are investigating after a 15-year-old boy was seriously injured in a fight involving Dieppe and Saint John soccer teams on Sunday.

A fight broke out at the end of the game and three youths allegedly hit a Dieppe player in the parking lot outside the Moncton SportsDome, causing serious facial injuries to the teenager.

Police responded to the scene around 4 p.m. Sunday.

“From what I know, it was a tough game. This may have fueled the frustration of players and parents, ”said Guy Verma, president of the Saint John soccer club, in French.

Taha Maarous, president of Soccer Dieppe, says he has never seen anything like what happened on Sunday. (Radio-Canada)

Taha Maarous, president of Soccer Dieppe, said he had never seen anything like what happened on Sunday and that he does not tolerate any act of violence.

He and Verma will cooperate in the investigation.

Younès Bouida, general manager of Soccer NB, says preventing incidents like this will take education and awareness. (Radio Canada)

Soccer NB’s independent Disciplinary Committee will assess the incident.

Younès Bouida, general manager of Soccer NB, said preventing incidents like this will take education and awareness.

He mentioned that there is a course on Respect in Sport which is mandatory for all coaches in the competitive sector.

While Soccer NB provides tools like this course to help educate parents, players and coaches, Bouida said, in French, “we need to pick up the pace so everyone is aware.