The celebrations that followed Far Eastern University-Diliman's title-clinching 3-0 win over the University of Santo Tomas in UAAP juniors' football led to an altercation between members of opposing teams at the University of the Philippines Football Field on Thursday.
WATCH:
Shortly after winning their 12th consecutive crown, FEU-D defender Bryan Villanueva stood in front of the Junior Golden Booters’ bench where he made a celebratory gesture directed toward UST fans in attendance.
Multiple angles from clips circulating on social media subsequently showed UST reserve goalkeeper Ben Sabuga running toward Villanueva and throwing a blindsided punch to the back of the FEU-D ace’s head.
Later pictures from the match saw UST head coach Marjo Allado confront Sabuga in the aftermath of the incident.
The UST squad gave its full account of the unfortunate mishap through an official statement online the day after the title game.
‘Disrespect and rude behavior’
While describing the incident as inexcusable, the Junior Golden Booters bared how an FEU-D senior player fired ‘offensive taunts’ to the squad just as the match concluded.
LOOK:
"We wanted to tell the story of what truly transpired during the game. At the final whistle of the championship game of the UAAP Season 86 Boys Football Tournament, a senior player from FEU, donning the captain’s armband charged toward UST’s technical area, hurling offensive taunts at their coaches, players, and supporters,” the España side said.
“He continued unchecked by anyone from FEU. The actions of this player have been captured and posted on social media.”
Sabuga condemned for 'spontaneous reaction'
The team went on to call for an equal condemnation of its opponent’s ‘deliberate and shameless display of rudeness,’ given how Sabuga’s ‘spontaneous reaction’ to FEU-D’s alleged instigations stood on the receiving end of online criticism.
“Unfortunately, some parts of these videos being circulated may have been spliced and only showed the reactions of some UST players. We do not condone these reactions by our players as we strongly believe that violence has no place in sports. But we also do not tolerate disrespect and rude behavior toward opponents, coaching staff, and supporters.”
The Junior Golden Booters added: “If a spontaneous reaction of a UST player warrants criticism and discipline, it is also with more reason that a deliberate and shameless display of rudeness by this FEU player, who instigated this incident after all, should be equally condemned and addressed.”
Neither FEU-D nor the UAAP have publicly spoke about the incident as of posting.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
