All that we know about the vicious beatdown captured in the video above comes from the well-written caption appended to it.
The younger guy, wearing a Cam Newton jersey, was standing during the entire game with his girlfriend during the Panthers 28-23 loss to the Eagles. An older guy seated behind them, wearing a white t-shirt, was pissed about this. Heated words were exchanged. The young guy called the old dude a “geriatric fuck”, then started raining punches on the older guy’s face.
Bystanders stepped into to protect the older man, who stayed seated as blood poured down his face. Meanwhile, the rage-filled Carolina pair left the scene of the incident to a cacophony of boos and shouts. Honestly, it’s just kind of sad.
While fights in the stands at NFL games are not a rarity, this one stands out for a couple reasons. First, it’s pretty decent cinematography! Second, this isn’t the sloppy, drunken fight where guys tussle and then fall on the heads of the people below them. This is a goddamn assault.
It’s no surprise then that the NFL and the Panthers are treating this a little more seriously that usual. The league has said it is investigating.
.@NFL says it’s in contact with #Panthers security regarding that punch shown by @CrossingBroad.” “We take all of these very seriously”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 13, 2017
The Panthers also put a statement Friday, saying “We have reviewed video tape of the incident and have identified the perpetrator. We are working with the Charlotte Mecklenberg Police Department to pursue charges to the fullest extent of the law.”
The statement went on: “The Carolina Panthers are committed to a fan-friendly and family-friendly stadium experience. The behavior exhibited by the perpetrator is unacceptable and will not be condoned at Bank of America Stadium.”
How about the victim? Well, we don’t know much, other than the fact that he walked away with a bloody shirt and went to the hospital to have his brain checked out.
https://twitter.com/anita_oh/status/918872958613032962
Hate to say it, but this is why some fans would rather stay home and watch the game at home instead of dealing with knuckleheads at the stadium.