Maxi Moralez fined after postgame brawl with Red Bulls player
- Maxi Moralez received a fine for an altercation after a playoff loss to the Red Bulls.
- Moralez violated the Hands to the Face/Head/Neck of an Opponent Policy.
- The incident reflects heightened tensions in the Hudson River Derby and has led to management changes at NYCFC.
In the United States, Major League Soccer imposed a fine on New York City FC midfielder Maxi Moralez following a brief altercation that took place after a playoff game against the Red Bulls. This incident occurred after NYCFC lost 2-0 on Saturday night, marking the first playoff encounter between the two rival teams in the Hudson River Derby. The league's disciplinary committee deemed Moralez's actions a violation of its policy regarding physical conduct, specifically for placing his hands on an opponent inappropriately. The altercation began when Moralez approached Red Bulls defender John Tolkin, who appeared to be celebrating and gesturing toward NYCFC supporters. In a moment of frayed tempers, Moralez grabbed Tolkin by the back of the neck and shoved him aside. This sparked further tension as Moralez also pushed Red Bulls defender Andres Reyes, which intensified the situation on the field. Referees and Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel intervened in an effort to de-escalate the rapidly building conflict, while Reyes attempted to calm Moralez through verbal communication. Before the tensions flared, a small contingent of NYCFC fans contributed to the chaos by throwing beer bottles onto the field aimed at celebrating Red Bulls players. During this incident, Tolkin managed to catch one of the bottles being thrown. Additionally, security had to tackle an overzealous NYCFC fan who rushed onto the field, signaling overall heightened emotions surrounding the match. Following the match, the loss closed out a tumultuous season for NYCFC, prompting significant changes in management. In the aftermath of the playoff defeat, NYCFC announced the departure of head coach Nick Cushing, which came as a surprise to many as he had recently laid out his vision for the team's future. Cushing had been with the club for two seasons, and his exit reflects the club's need to regroup and evaluate their strategy moving forward. This playoff match and its resultant events have added more intrigue to the ongoing rivalry between New York City FC and the Red Bulls, as well as the scrutiny facing both teams in the upcoming season.