Another junior scandal: parents and children got into a fight at Progresul Spartac

Not only at U Craiova – Rapid U17, in the Elite League, there were serious assaults between parents during the weekend, including physical injuries. On Saturday, in the same competition, the events went crazy in the stands and on the field at the Progresul Spartac – Hermannstadt U16 match (3-2), played in the 1 Decembrie commune near the Capital.

A more heated phase on the lawn, followed by an exchange of insults between the parents, sparked a fight between the adults and a melee between the children. And the referee had to intervene with two red cards awarded to the kids whose parents had been hugging each other over the fence.

“I found them pouncing on me to hit me”

Everything would have started from a kick from the edge, to which the U16 boys scrambled to claim the ball. Marian Petre, the father of David Petre from Progresul, one of the parents involved in the incident, narrates: “It was about a quarter of an hour until the end of the game, I was sitting in the first row and, during a clash between the children, the father of a boy from Hermannstadt started shouting, insulting, using bad language. I told him: “Don't insult me, I'm coming up to you!” put his hands directly around my neck! Naturally, I defended myself and then he left with a few hugs”.

He continues: “It seems to me that the world has gone crazy lately. We are not in the jungle to do justice to ourselves. This has never happened to me before and I don't think it's OK for us, as adults, to lose control, especially in front of children. I understand that the gentleman from Sibiu would have apologized for that gesture and would have expressed that he was looking for it through his attitude.”

David Petre of Progresul Spartac was one of the players sent off due to incidents on the pitch. Photo: facebook/progresulspartac

“My boy was kicked in the back by an opponent while he was down on the pitch”

Marius Periș is the one accused of jumping into the fight in the stands. And his son, Filip, was eliminated following the incidents on the pitch.

The Sibian didn't want to give too many details: “What else can I say? That whatever I say – I'm still to blame! I lost my temper when my boy was kicked in the back by an opponent while he was down on the pitch. I shouldn't have used those words, that's right! But I couldn't help myself when I saw what was happening on the pitch.”

In the feudal tribune on “December 1” the parents of the players from Progresul Spartac and Hermannstadt took to the map. Photo: facebook/progresulspartac

And he also pointed out: “There were only a few scuffles, that if I had put my hand around his neck, things would probably have turned out worse. I only grabbed him by the shoulders! Honestly, I'm sorry for what happened and I'm going to invite that gentleman to a coffee when the return leg in Sibiu is contested. I don't want to say more, because I also got to Salvare, I hit myself during the event, it wasn't really good.”

I don't know how FRF accepts to play Junior Elite League matches on a completely inadequate field, as was the case with Progresul Spartac. Somewhere in the field, no running water, no minimal conditions
Marius Periș, father of Filip Periș, Hermannstadt U16

Progress: “A beat of about 15 seconds.” Hermannstadt: “We will take action!”

Dorin Zotincă is the head of the Hermannstadt Academy. Photo: fchermannstadt.ro

But what do the clubs say? Răzvan Cozma is the coach of Progresul Spartac U16: “The phase happened in the second half on the opposite side of the reserve benches. There was also an altercation between the parents in the stands, where a fight broke out for about 15 seconds. This was while a few children were fighting on the field, but the others intervened to calm them down. The nerves were a bit strained and because those from Hermannstadt still they were wasting time by all possible methods, creating a state of tension. They led 2-1, but we came back in the end, we scored in the 90th and 90th plus 4 minutes and won 3-2”.

These things have been happening for years, unfortunately, in youth football in Romania. It is very bad, and it gives a mark on the education we have and how we understand how to handle such situations
Andrei Erimia, manager Progresul Spartac

And Dorin Zotincă, head of the Hermannstadt Academy, explained: “I wasn't there personally, but, from what the coach told me, the father of one of our players offended an opponent during a throw-in, because he didn't let him execute. The father from Progresul retorted and this is where the incident started. I understand that Marius Periș, Filip's father, also went out with a broken arch, he needed care there. Also, our player was eliminated because he spat one opponent, the other jumped into the fight and both saw the red card. Exactly whose parents assaulted each other in the stands. We will clarify all the details and take action accordingly“.