NYCFC coach denies punching Toronto player, calls for investigation

New York City FC coach Nick Cushing is being asked to investigate claims made by Toronto FC head coach John Herdman that he punched a player after a match in March. Cushing denied the accusation and asked Major League Soccer (MLS) to look into it. The incident was brought up by Herdman after a heated match between NYCFC and Toronto, which ended in a brawl. The player allegedly punched is reported to be forward Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty. Herdman insisted on the claim during a media conference, saying he believes his players and supports them. MLS is aware of the situation and is investigating. The brawl involved both teams pushing each other, with players like Toronto goalkeeper Sean Johnson and NYCFC defender Strahinja Tanasijević at the center. NYCFC has upcoming matches against the Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls. The tension between NYCFC and Toronto FC started in a previous match at Yankee Stadium and escalated after the recent game. Herdman and Toronto midfielder Jonathan Osorio accused Cushing of punching a 19-year-old player during halftime. Cushing denied the accusation, stating he has never laid a finger on a player in his coaching career. The player allegedly punched was not named, but reports suggest it was Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty. Toronto requested camera footage from the tunnel at Yankee Stadium, but there was no evidence of the incident. The situation intensified after Johnson was allegedly headbutted by an opposing player. NYCFC won the match 3-2, with goals from Santiago Rodríguez, Malachi Jones, and Andrés Perea. The two teams will not face each other again in the regular season.