What was supposed to be a fun weekend of youth sports in Arizona spiraled into chaos when a flag football tournament erupted into a massive brawl involving players, parents, and spectators.
The fight broke out around 1 p.m. Sunday at a youth flag football tournament in Mesa, according to police. Authorities said the chaos began on the field when about 20 players from two teams started throwing punches. Within moments, the situation exploded as parents and others rushed in, turning the sideline into a full-blown melee.
By the time officers arrived, the fight had grown to involve roughly 100 people.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
One 15-year-old player who witnessed the scene said it felt overwhelming as law enforcement swarmed the area. He described seeing dozens of police vehicles racing across nearby fields while families scrambled to leave. “It was crazy,” he said, adding that it took more than 10 minutes just to get out of the sports complex.
In total, 70 officers from multiple agencies responded, including police from Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Officers cleared the fields within about 45 minutes and dispersed the crowd.
Despite the scale of the brawl, police said no serious injuries were reported and no arrests were made.
Tournament organizers, Red Zone Elite Tournaments, later addressed the incident in a statement, saying the violence stemmed from four specific teams and a large group of parents and coaches who were antagonizing one another. The organization apologized for the abrupt end to the event and said safety remains its top priority.
They also made it clear that consequences are coming. Organizers said those involved in the fight will be held accountable and could face severe penalties, including lifetime bans from future tournaments.
“We do not support violence, bullying, or harassment in any form,” the group said, adding that they stood by police for shutting down the event to protect everyone at the fields.