Councilman Demands Probe After Ironbound Soccer Match Becomes Drunken Mess

NEWARK — The East Ward councilman is demanding to know how a soccer game at Ironbound Stadium last week devolved into fighting and left piles of litter, causing the city to cancel a second game that was to be held by the same organizer at the Eddie Moraes Stadium on Sunday.

Councilman Michael Silva said he started receiving calls around 9 p.m. Thursday, July 11, about drunkenness at a soccer game that required the intervention of Newark police. A video posted to Instagram shows yelling, fighting and men with security vests intervening.

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“I want an open investigation on this event,” Silva said in a phone interview on Monday. “I want to know who in the mayor’s office authorized this permit to be given. I want to know how this event was able to take place with kids on the field and kids in the facilities and while allowing alcohol to be served and sold.”

During and after the event on July 11, Newark Police issued about 11 summonses for violations of city ordinances regarding food and alcohol vending without a license, drinking in public and various traffic violations, Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said in a statement on Tuesday. No arrests were made, Fragé said.

Authorities did not say who the organizer was.

Silva thanked the mayor’s office for calling off a second soccer event by the same unidentified organizer, which was scheduled for Sunday night. However, he said he should have been apprised ahead of time, instead of through the numerous resident inquiries.

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“Ultimately, I am responsible for what goes on in my ward and not to be advised of any games or anything that was going on is an insult to me and is an insult to the East Ward community,” he said.

Mayor’s office spokesperson Susan Garofalo said proper permits were obtained for the event.

“While we strive to provide a safe and fun environment for community activities, we cannot control the behaviors of individuals,” Garofalo said in a statement.

“In response to the incidents that occurred, the city’s public safety department acted swiftly and appropriately to the situation. All future events by the group have been canceled,” she said.

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