Three youth football coaches, who faced charges after a fight that broke out during a game in August, appeared in Magistrate Court Thursday.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Local youth football coach addresses fight at game
Coaches from Carlynton and Keystone Oaks could be seen in the viral video, which was taken by a parent in the stands at Honus Wagner Field in Carnegie.
Carnegie police charged Carlynton coach Dequay Canton with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and summary harassment. Those charges were held for court Thursday.
Canton and his attorney did not comment following the hearing.
After the fight, Canton issued a statement claiming players had directed racial slurs at his team. Casey White, the attorney representing Keystone Oaks coaches Frank McGrath and Joseph Kubiak, disputed that claim.
“My clients have said they did not hear any racial slurs hurled on the field by players or coaches,” White said. “It’s my understanding the referees were interviewed by the league, and no racial slurs were heard by the referees.”
McGrath and Kubiak accepted an agreement, requiring them to complete 15 hours of coursework covering coaching fundamentals, as well as teaching and modeling appropriate behavior.
White said he believes his clients should not have been charged and maintained that they were attempting to de-escalate the confrontation.
“This is just an unfortunate situation that Coach Canton — for lack of a better term — started, and unfortunately, my clients were put in the middle of it,” White said.
According to White, once McGrath and Kubiak complete the required courses, their cases will be dismissed and their summary disorderly conduct charges will be expunged.
During Canton’s hearing, the judge also made clear that Canton is not permitted to coach at this time as a condition of his bond.
White, who is also president of a local youth football league, said incidents involving overly involved parents and coaches can happen in youth sports but that the Carnegie fight should serve as a lesson.
“This is 8U football, 10U football, 12U football,” White said. “It’s not that big of a deal. We try to grow these kids and prepare them for future endeavors, whether it’s football, wrestling, basketball, and how to act appropriately.”
Canton is scheduled to appear in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in downtown Pittsburgh on Nov. 25.
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