The Large Ten Convention introduced it has fined Michigan and Ohio State $100,000 every for violating the convention’s sportsmanship coverage for the on-field melee on the finish of the Wolverines’ win in Columbus on Saturday.
“Not solely did the actions of each groups violate basic components of sportsmanship equivalent to respect and civility, the character of the incident additionally jeopardized the protection of members and bystanders,” the Large Ten mentioned in an announcement on Sunday.
A struggle broke out at midfield after the Wolverines’ 13-10 victory when Michigan gamers tried to plant their flag on the OSU emblem and have been confronted by the Buckeyes.
Police used pepper spray to interrupt up the gamers, who threw punches and shoves. One officer suffered a head harm when he was “knocked down and trampled whereas attempting to separate gamers preventing,” a police union official mentioned. The officer was taken to a hospital and has since been launched.
After the Ohio State gamers confronted their rivals at midfield, defensive finish Jack Sawyer grabbed the highest of the Wolverines’ flag and ripped it off the pole because the brawl moved towards the Michigan bench.
“We respect the Large Ten Convention’s determination on this matter,” Ohio State mentioned in an announcement. “What occurred post-game yesterday was unlucky. Good sportsmanship is at all times vital in every thing we do at Ohio State. Transferring ahead, we’ll proceed to look at and tackle our post-game protocols to make sure our student-athletes, coaches, visiting groups and workers safely exit the sector.”
Ohio State police mentioned in an announcement that “a number of officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Michigan gamers may very well be seen rubbing their eyes after publicity to the chemical irritant.
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore mentioned after the sport each groups might have dealt with the scenario in a different way.
“A lot feelings on either side,” he mentioned. “Rivalry video games get heated, particularly this one. It’s the largest one within the nation, so we obtained to deal with that higher.”
A Michigan athletic division spokesman mentioned on Sunday evening the soccer program would don’t have any remark past the group’s remarks Saturday.
The scuffle was certainly one of many who broke out Saturday in rivalry video games throughout the nation.