ORLANDO, Fla. – Four members of Orlando City Soccer Club supporters group were arrested after a brawl that happened at Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
St. Pete Police arrested 24-year-old Stephen Marva of Deltona for battery on a police officer. 30-year-old Charles Tolman of Orlando was also arrested for battery on a police officer.
Police say Tolman was trying to wave a flag in the area of the Tampa fans and struck an officer with the pole of the flag when he was asked to stop.
Tolman tells a different story. He showed Local 6 video of three men, who he says are Tampa fans, attacking him and trying to take his flag. The video stopped before an officer entered.
Jimmy Galvez, 28, and 24-year-old Jared Ambrose were arrested for disorderly intoxication. All four men are members of either Raucous or Iron Lion Firm support groups.
Apparently the rivalry has grown between the two teams. According to the Rowdies website, the owner asked for extra security before the game, and blamed Orlando City SC fans, saying, "Certain members of the Orlando City SC supporters group engaged in disorderly behavior beyond acceptable limits."
Orlando City SC released a statement saying, "Orlando City will not tolerate fan misbehavior. Any fan(s) determined to have violated Orlando City and Major League Soccer's fan code of conduct will be swiftly punished with significant sanctions, including being banned from future matches."
Tolman says the video of the attack could help him make his case in court.