‘It’s an invasion’: Internet fumes as NYC school soccer game gets canceled after group of migrants refuse to leave field

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: People online are criticizing authorities as a high school soccer game at a public field in East Harlem was canceled after a group of migrants refused to leave the pitch so the children could play, as per New York Post. 

About 40 boys from both teams showed up on Sunday, April 14, at Thomas Jefferson Park for the match which was scheduled for 5 pm. The Kickers were set to face off against FA Euro New York.

New York High School soccer game canceled

Erik Johansson, the coach of the Manhattan Kickers-17-year-old boys travel team, said, "I directly asked them to leave and some of them kind of took it into consideration, but then four or five of them said, ‘You know what, f**k it, we don’t have to leave, we can do whatever we want." 

However, despite the arrival of the police, a group of around 30 youths who seemed to be African migrants and spoke little English, refused to leave. The police demanded to see a copy of the club team's city permit to end the altercation.

"When you show up with two teams in uniform, a ref and two coaches, usually nobody is asking to see your permit,” said Johansson.

When Johansson's assistant managed to send over a copy of the Kickers' permit, the game was 30 minutes beyond schedule and neither team felt comfortable.

"Even when the game is over, you don’t know if they’re waiting for you, so even if the cops kicked them out, it may not be over. So we just all agreed, this is too dangerous,” Johansson said.

Parents informed him that the incident had shaken their children and that they no longer wanted to play on the field. They don't intend to go back, according to Johansson.

"It’s so frustrating that the guys who refused to follow the rules won,” Maud Maron, a SoHo mom whose son plays on the team, told The Post. 

She said it is a sign of the Big Apple becoming “lawless.”

Internet reacts to soccer game cancellation incident

Several social media showed their disapproval on the incident.

A user wrote on NY Post, "It's bizarre and sad how two people can see the same situation and logic and come to different conclusions. Any one who feels that bail reform, open borders, not enforcing the basic laws will do anything but destroy society and this country needs mental help." 

A user wrote, "This what America has come to. Just wait, one more term, for the incumbent, should be the dagger driven into the heart of this country. I don't understand why everyone doesn't see into the future."

Another user wrote, "Enabling this behavior is just going to make it more common. The NYPD is hamstrung by the city leadership and the pro-disruption DA's office, but arresting a few of the louder trespassers couldn't have hurt." 

One user wrote, "Imagine "migrating" to another country and flaunting that country's laws. The standard talking point is that these people are coming here for a "better life". A better life for them, but not for us. It's an invasion."

A user said, "I keep saying this. America beware. This is what happened in the UK and Europe. Now Ireland is falling. The red scare is real." 

The next user said, "When you have a present government that doesn’t follow the rules or law, no surprise it flows downhill into the rest of society." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.