Video has emerged of a New York Jets fan punching a woman in the face during a fight following the Jets controversial and close victory over the New England Patriots. The identity of the man who struck the woman has not been released, but a Jets spokesperson said that the club was aware of the incident, detained those involved in the fight, and turned over the matter to the New Jersey State Police.
This incidence of violence comes on the heels of a Los Angeles Dodgers fan being stabbed to death following a game with the Dodgers’ heated rival the San Francisco Giants. In 2011, two men were shot and another was seriously beaten following an Oakland Raiders-San Francisco 49ers contest.
Fan violence in professional sports is becoming a more serious concern for league officials and team owners. The NFL’s new “Together We Make Football” campaign often highlights family-friendly stories of the influence of football on the lives of various celebrities and public figures. However, stories such as this exemplify the alcohol fueled and increasingly violent atmosphere at many stadiums that has been turning parents off from bringing their children on game day over the last few years.