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Las Vegas Raiders select QB Fernando Mendoza with the 1st overall pick in the NFL Draft.
The Major Arena Soccer League expelled a San Diego Sockers player and suspended two others following altercations with fans after a game against the Milwaukee Wave. Both teams were fined, and the Sockers will be without key players for their next championship match.
The Major Arena Soccer League expelled one San Diego Sockers player, suspended two others and fined two more in the aftermath of altercations following the teamās game against the Milwaukee Wave on April 22 at the UWM Panther Arena.
Additionally, both clubs have been fined, the league announced April 23, and efforts are ongoing to identify spectators who were involved.
The penalties mean that for Game 2 of the three-game Ron Newman Cup championship series April 24, the Sockers will be without three players who were among their top 10 scorers in the regular season and two of their top eight scorers in the playoffs.
The trouble stemmed from an incident late in the Sockersā 5-4 victory in which Sockers defender Cesar Cerda kicked Wave defender Tony Walls in the groin. The traditional handshake line turned contentious, and then jeering elevated to spectators hurling debris and drinks at Sockers players and players retaliating.
San Diego Sockers midfielder Stefan Mijatovic riles up the crowd fans while standing on the bench late and hollering in MASL finals Game 1 against the Milwaukee Wave on April 22 at the UWM Panther Arena. Mijatovic was expelled from the league for his part in a post-game fracas involving spectators.
The expulsion resulted from a post-game incident where a Sockers player kicked a Milwaukee Wave player, leading to altercations with fans.
One player was expelled, two were suspended, and two others were fined by the MASL.
The Sockers will be without three of their top scorers for Game 2 of the Ron Newman Cup championship series.
Efforts are ongoing to identify the spectators who were involved in the altercations during the incident.
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Defender Stefan Mijatovic, who was signed by the Sockers as a free agent in March, has been permanently expelled from the league and banned from all MASL activities and facilities.
Mijatovic was on league probation after an incident Dec. 12 in a game against the Wave while he was a member of the Kansas City Comets. Mijatovic was seen stepping and standing on an opponent who was on the ground after a foul.
Sockers midfielder Luiz Morales and forward Jesus Pacheco were suspended for one game each and fined an undisclosed amount for āsevere and violent conduct.ā
Sebastian Mendez was fined an undisclosed amount for āsevere and violent conductā and Tavoy Morgan was fined an undisclosed amount for severe and violent conduct while on probation.
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) moves the ball past San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) in MASL finals Game 1 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. San Diego won, 5-4.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Steinwascher (44) controls the ball.
Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) plays the ball with his head.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Sanchez (80) shoots past two San Diego Sockers defenders.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Shawn Azcueta (6) stretches to block a shot by San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin.
Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) and defender Stuart Grable (12) celebrate with midfielder Cesar Correa after he scored the teamās first goal.
San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1) pulls the ball out of the air in front of teammate Drew Ruggles and Milwaukee Wave forward Max Ferdinand.
San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) talks with Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett during the game, suggesting Wave players were flopping at the hint of a foul.
Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett kisses the ball after scoring.
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) heads the ball to forward Ian Bennett (26) who scored past San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1), pulling the Wave within 4-3.
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) celebrates after his header to forward Ian Bennett scored a goal.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher (97) works against San Diego Sockers midfielders Sebastian Mendez (fallen) and Jesus Pacheco.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Tanner Hodgson (76) and San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda tangle at the ball.
Milwaukee Wave defender Tony Walls (20) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers forward Nick Perera.
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) works with the ball against San Diego Sockers.
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) celebrates his goal late in the fourth quarter.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Cesar Correa (15) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers midfielder Leonardo De Oliveira.
San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin (9) walks away angrily and Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) is restrained by goalkeeper William Banahene as tempers flare after the game.
Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) holds back San Diego Sockers midfielder Sebastian Mendez (13) in the tussle after the game.
San Diego Sockers and Milwaukee Wave players exchange words.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) moves the ball past San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) in MASL finals Game 1 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. San Diego won, 5-4.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) moves the ball past San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) in MASL finals Game 1 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. San Diego won, 5-4.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Steinwascher (44) controls the ball.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) plays the ball with his head.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Sanchez (80) shoots past two San Diego Sockers defenders.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Shawn Azcueta (6) stretches to block a shot by San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) and defender Stuart Grable (12) celebrate with midfielder Cesar Correa after he scored the teamās first goal.
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San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1) pulls the ball out of the air in front of teammate Drew Ruggles and Milwaukee Wave forward Max Ferdinand.
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San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) talks with Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett during the game, suggesting Wave players were flopping at the hint of a foul.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett kisses the ball after scoring.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) heads the ball to forward Ian Bennett (26) who scored past San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1), pulling the Wave within 4-3.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) celebrates after his header to forward Ian Bennett scored a goal.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher (97) works against San Diego Sockers midfielders Sebastian Mendez (fallen) and Jesus Pacheco.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Tanner Hodgson (76) and San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda tangle at the ball.
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Milwaukee Wave defender Tony Walls (20) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers forward Nick Perera.
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Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) works with the ball against San Diego Sockers.
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Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) celebrates his goal late in the fourth quarter.
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Milwaukee Wave midfielder Cesar Correa (15) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers midfielder Leonardo De Oliveira.
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San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin (9) walks away angrily and Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) is restrained by goalkeeper William Banahene as tempers flare after the game.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) holds back San Diego Sockers midfielder Sebastian Mendez (13) in the tussle after the game.
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San Diego Sockers and Milwaukee Wave players exchange words.
An appeal to rescind Cerdaās red card and automatic one-game suspension was rejected.
The teams were fined for actions detrimental to the league for āfailure to maintain proper bench and postgame decorum.ā In addition to players, staff members from each team were seen in the area of the conflict between the field and Sockers dressing room, although it was largely unclear if any were involved or trying to prevent escalation.
The MASL said it is working in coordination with the teams, Wisconsin Center District security, arena security and law enforcement to identify spectators involved. Those identified will face indefinite bans from MASL events and UWM Panther Arena events and may face legal implications.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MASL disciplines Sockers, Wave after postgame incident involving fans