Two New York Yankees fans have been banned from attending Game 5 of the World Series after interfering with Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts in Game 4.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Yankees announced that the fans “will not be permitted to attend tonight’s game in any capacity” and described Tuesday night’s incident with Betts as “egregious and unacceptable.”
A source informed ESPN’s Jesse Rogers that it is still unclear whether the ban for Austin Capobianco and John Peter, both season-ticket holders, will extend to any games at Yankee Stadium next season.
“The safety and security of players, fans, and Stadium staff is the foundational element of every event held at Yankee Stadium, and it cannot be compromised,” the Yankees said in their statement.
With tonight being the last home game of the season, the Yankees expressed that they want “every ounce of our fans' passion on display." They emphasized that while Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, fan support must never cross into actions that intentionally put players at risk. The team has donated the fans’ Game 5 tickets to an ill child and his family, who were unable to attend a kid-focused event in September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Capobianco told Rogers that the Yankees refunded his Game 5 tickets and warned him that he would face arrest if he tried to attend the game.
“We’re hoping for a short-term ban,” Capobianco said to Rogers. “We don’t want to lose the season tickets.”
Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, stated on Wednesday that the union “will be closely tracking both the response to that incident and the protective measures taken going forward."
“The MLBPA takes Player safety and security very seriously, including and especially at the ballpark,” Clark said, adding that the union has been in regular contact with League security since the incident.
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