Fan interference can get you out of the game. Here’s what else.

On By Littum

game

Sports fans pay top dollar to be up close and personal to the action, but high ticket prices do not give spectators the right to detract from or disrupt the game.

That’s exactly what happened during Game 4 of the World Series between them New York Yankees and that Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. Two Yankees fans were ejected for fan interference after prying the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove on a bad pop fly down the right field line.

The fans were ejected from Game 5 of the World Series in New York because of their “cruel and unacceptable” behavior.

There are many instances where fandom can veer into unruly territory. Here is a list of unacceptable offenses that can get you ostracized and potentially banned from a professional sports venue:

Going on the track/field

Entering the field is a big no-no. Whether a fan chooses to eject or stage a protest, disrupting the game by walking onto a sports field or court is automatically grounds for ejection and often criminal charges—it is, after all, trespassing.

Two shirtless fans were ejected and arrested after running onto the field at Super Bowl 58 between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas. They were each charged with conduct prohibited at an athletic event, a misdemeanor.

In October 2022, an animal rights protester ran across the field at Levi’s Stadium wearing a pink flare during a “Monday Night Football” game between the Los Angeles Rams and 49ers. The protester evaded security guards until he was tackled to the ground by linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive end Takkarist McKinley. The fans were removed afterwards.

“There are consequences for your actions,” Wagner said.

In April 2022, another animal rights activist was removed during an NBA playoff game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves after running onto the court mid-game at Minnesota’s Target Center. She was immediately tackled on the field by the security guard and dragged away.

Throwing objects

Fans are allowed to shower their favorite sports team with cheers, but that’s about it. Throwing something else is a surefire way to make an early exit. MLB’s Fan Code of Conduct strictly prohibits “interference with the progress of the game, including throwing objects onto the field.” The NBA, NHL and many other leagues have similar rules. NHL fans often throw hats onto the ice for a player’s hat trick (three goals), but other items are prohibited.

In May 2021, a Celtics fan was arrested for assault and battery with a deadly weapon for throwing a water bottle at Kyrie Irving after an NBA playoff game in Boston. There were several fan incidents in the NBA that month. New York Knicks announced that a fan was ejected from Madison Square Garden for spitting on Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young when he inbounded the ball during a first-round playoff game against the Knicks. The Philadelphia 76ers also banned for life a fan who dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook’s head.

“The amount of disrespect, the amount of fans just doing whatever they want to do — it’s just out of pocket,” Westbrook said. “There are certain things that cross the line. Any other setting … a guy should come up the street and pour popcorn on my head, you know what happens.”

Earlier this month was The SEC fined the University of Texas $250,000 after Longhorn‘ battle against Georgia was briefly delayed when Texas students threw trash and debris onto the field at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium after a controversial call. The SEC said the fine was levied “to interrupt the competitive opportunity of both teams and endanger competitive participants.”

Abusive language

Foul, derogatory or offensive language and obscene gestures are prohibited at sporting events.

In 2021, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James had two fans ejected from their courtside seats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis after he said they engaged in behavior “out of line with obscene gestures and words.” During the Nov. 25 game against the Pacers, James demonstratively pointed at a man and a woman in their front row, resulting in an arena official escorting the fans away.

“When obscene gestures and language come into it, (it) cannot be tolerated,” James said. “There’s a difference between rooting for your team and not wanting the other team to win and things I would never say to a fan and they shouldn’t say to me.”

Fighting

Fighting is grounds for immediate expulsion. Social media videos of fans getting into physical altercations with rival fans have flooded the internet in recent years. Not only can fans not fight amongst themselves, but they cannot engage in any physical behavior with players.

The most infamous example is the “Malice at the Palace” brawl, when a brawl broke out between members of the Indiana Pacers, fans, coaches, staff and Detroit Pistons players during a November 2004 game in Michigan. The fight started between the Pistons and Pacers players after a hard foul. The brawl escalated after a fan threw a beer at Ron Artest (now Metta Sandiford-Artest) while he was relaxing on the scorer’s table. Artest immediately ran into the stands and confronted a fan he believed was responsible, and the brawl erupted, resulting in nine player suspensions in total, including five Pacers. Artest was suspended for the remainder of that season, and all fans involved in the brawl were banned indefinitely from Pistons games.

The USA TODAY app brings you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crossword puzzles, audio storytelling, the e-newspaper and more.