Officer down!
Police and firefighters got into a bloody brawl during what was supposed friendly charity football game at MCU Park on May 22. Firefighters felt burned they were losing 13–29, and a battle-royale erupted in the matchup’s closing minutes, a photographer on the scene said.
“There was yelling back and forth between two players after a play — everybody encircled them, and then I saw helmets flying,” said photographer Angel Zayas. “FDNY was really p—– off that they were 13 against 29 — everybody was taunting back and forth.”
Video depicts a bloodied firefighter hobbling away from the bench-clearer.
Officials tried to keep the massive bout classified, the photographer said.
“When the brawl went down, they all came after me and said, ‘You better not put this out there,’ ” Zayas said.
Still, players lined up and shook hands after the clock hit zero — and the heated rivalry is par for the course, an organizer said.
“It’s the biggest game of the year for both teams, and it’s obviously a big rivalry,” said Mike Serna,w ho runs nypdf
A little rough-housing is to be expected, a police spokesmen said.
“C’mon, they’re playing football — they fight all the time,” the spokesman said.
Fire department officials declined to comment.
It was teams’ 44th meeting — and the first in Brooklyn in more than a decade. Money raised at the showdown went to the police Widows’ & Children’s Fund and the fire department’s Fire Family Transport Foundation.
