The president of the St. Leonard Cougars football team says many of his players will face team and league sanctions after a wild brawl broke out between players and spectators on Sunday.

The fight came with only seconds remaining in the semi-final of the Ontario Football Conference game in Hamilton, Ont.

Several fans seated behind the Cougars' bench had been abusive throughout the game, taunting players with racial slurs and hurling bottles and cans at them.

"I see water bottles being thrown, I see beer being thrown at players, beer bottles being thrown," said player Anthony Vignone.

The brawl broke out during the final play of the game when a spectator hurled a can of beer, hitting one player in the back, and prompting a dozen Cougars to crawl into the stands and fight back.

A coach stopped Vignone from going into the stands.

"I'm happy I didn't go in there but I'm sad because I didn't get most of my teammates out," said Vignone.

Tony Iadeluca, president of the St. Leonard football association, said the coaches and team manager complained to referees and the opposing team about the lack of security, but were told that no security staff were available.

He said he is also upset that officials did not respect league rules which say no fans are allowed behind the visiting team's bench.

Iadeluca said his players will be punished, but also feels the racially-motivated taunts should have been addressed by the referees.

"The players are responsible for what they did. We're not trying to defend them in any way, in fact there are going to be league sanctions against those players, and there are going to be team sanctions against those players and other individuals involved," he said.

About 200 people were in the stands during the game.

Parents of children on the Midget Cougars say they are well aware of the verbal abuse faced by players.

Frank Tsagatakis says players should not have started swinging punches.

"You'd think the players after all those years of playing should be able to take it," said Tsagatakis.


Click the link on the right to see video of the brawl.