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A chaotic scene unfolded at a travel baseball tournament in Winter Haven, Florida, resulting in one person getting injured and three individuals being taken into custody. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Chain of Lakes Complex baseball fields.
The Winter Haven Police Department reported that they received a call regarding a disturbance at 6:20 p.m. The event took place at the fields located on Cypress Gardens Boulevard, where a fight had broken out.
Upon arriving, officers discovered two injured individuals: a 21-year-old umpire officiating the game and his father, who was present in the stands as a spectator.
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The altercation reportedly began after the young umpire issued a verbal warning to 25-year-old Marcos Antonio Aballi, who was coaching one of the teams involved in the tournament.
Subsequently, Yosmany Guzman Fernandez, aged 38 and the father of a player on Aballi’s team, approached the umpire’s father, escalating the situation further.
Police said Fernandez was displeased with the warning and pushed the victim before punching him in the face.
Fernandez and both the umpire and his father have had negative encounters in the past, according to authorities.
Seeing his father being attacked by Fernandez, the umpire left the field in an attempt to separate the two but was punched from behind by Aballi. The umpire then fell to the ground, where members of the coach’s team joined the fight.
Police said a witness jumped on the umpire in an attempt to shield him from the attack but was also struck.
According to Winter Haven police, Fernandez’s 17-year-old son, who was on the team, joined the fight and began kicking the umpire while he was on the ground.
The umpire was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for his injuries. His father did not require medical attention.
“There is absolutely no room for parents to ruin what should be a great showcase of sports talent during these tournaments,” Police Chief Vance Monroe said. “The talent of players should be in the spotlight, not the actions of these instigators.”
The Winter Haven Police Department arrested Fernandez, his 17-year-old son and Aballi. All three were charged with battery on a sports official during an event.
