The 12 craziest fan-player fights in sports history

Tuesday night's interaction between Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and a New York Yankees fan has re-ignited the discussions surrounding the boundary between players and supporters at sporting events.

In the first inning, Betts tried tracking down a foul ball down the first base line and tried reaching up into the stands to make an out.

He was met there by a Yankees fan - Austin Capobianco, 38, of Connecticut - who tried ripping the ball out of Betts' glove, as well as another fan who began grabbing Betts' wrist.

It's led to the two fans being suspended from attending Thursday's Game 5 and calls to mind other famous - or, rather, infamous - interactions between athlete and spectator throughout the years.

Here, DailyMail.com takes a look back at just some examples of such heated interactions - from the world of baseball and beyond.

'The Steve Bartman Incident'

Arguably the most famous instance of fan interference in baseball - if not all of sports - this incident led to the public persecution of one Chicago Cubs fan for over a decade.

In 2003, the Cubs were playing in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series with the chance to go to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

Up three-games-to-two in the series, the tide seemed to change when Florida Marlins batter Luis Castillo hit a pop fly down the foul line.

Cubs outfielder Moises Alou attempted to make a play on the ball, but Cubs fan Steve Bartman deflected it. Despite clear objections from Alou, the umpire did not rule it as fan interference.

The Cubs lost their composure in the aftermath of that play, giving up eight runs in that inning to lose the game 8-3. Chicago would go on to lose the following game as well, missing out on their chance to play for a World Series crown.

In the moments after the interference from Bartman, fans began throwing things at him and insulting him. Following the Cubs' loss in the series, Bartman was doxxed and was harrassed by Chicago fans - who turned him into a pariah, despite his apology and the Cubs' players insistence that they were to blame for the loss.

The story does have a happy ending though - with the Cubs winning the 2016 World Series and ending the so-called 'Curse of the Billy Goat'. As a way to try and make up for his poor treatment, Bartman was sent a championship ring by the team.

'The Jeffrey Maier Incident'

Yet another incident named for a fan interfering with a baseball play, this one took place over 25 years ago.

In Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hit a long fly ball toward the right field wall.

As Orioles right fielder Tony Tarasco was tracking it toward the wall, 12-year-old Yankees fan Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall and deflected the ball into the stands.

Tarasco immediately protested to right field umpire Rich Garcia - but the umpire ruled it a home run, tying the game at 4-4. The Yankees would go on to win the game, would beat the Orioles four-games-to-one in the ALCS, and then beat the Braves to win the 1996 World Series.

Maier became a celebrity in New York - with the New York Daily News even inviting him to sit behind the Yankees dugout during the World Series.

At the same time, he was vilified by O's fans - with the Baltimore Sun once calling him 'the most despised child in the history of Baltimore sports'.

Dodgers fan reaches over the wall, preventing Yankees lead

This incident came from this very World Series.

Back in Game 1, in the top of the ninth, Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres socked a hit headed toward the left centerfield wall.

While it's not clear if the ball was tracking out or if it was going to carom off the wall, a Dodgers fan reached over the fence with his glove and grabbed it.

Umpires immediately ruled the play as a ground-rule double due to fan interference and the Yankees could not bring Torres home.

Dodgers hero Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning, walk-off grand slam in extra innings to give Los Angeles a win. 

Joey Votto grabs a fan's shirt

Call it a case of 'friendly fire'.

In this incident, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was chasing down a foul ball and reached over into the stands to try and make a play on the ball.

Unfortunately, a Reds fan was tracking the ball as well and reached straight up to try and grab it - knocking the ball away from Votto before it fell to the ground.

An annoyed Votto looked straight at the fan and grabbed him by the crest of the jersey - almost as if to question what team he was rooting for.

While not quite fan interference, because the ball was over the seats, it's still an incident where player and fan clattered together. 

Granderson has confrontation after being touched by a fan

In an April 2014 game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Angels, Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson tracked down a pop fly from Angels batter J.B. Shuck down the line near the foul pole.

After making the grab, Granderson attempted to throw the ball back to the infield when an Angels fan reached out and touched him on the back.

Granderson turned around and started yelling at the fan - who threw his hands up, almost as if to say he didn't do it.

The Mets outfielder told Newsday, 'He touched me. Then I turned around and he's like "I didn't mean to". I said, "Hey, just don't touch me." So that was it. Say whatever you want to say, boo, cheer, clap, cheer for your team, cheer for the other team. But just don't physically touch players.' 

Seahawks lineman Quinton Jefferson tries fighting a Jaguars fan

At the end of a chippy 2017 game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle's defensive stars grew frustrated that they were losing the game and began to roughhouse their opponents.

With Jacksonville lined up in victory formation, Seattle DL Michael Bennett was penalized for unnecessary roughness and teammate Sheldon Richardson was ejected for starting a brawl.

Just one snap later, Seahawks DL Quinton Jefferson was ejected from the game due to his own unnecessary roughness.

On his way to the locker room, a Jaguars fan lobbed something at Jefferson - nearly missing him.

An irate Jefferson pulled off his helmet and made a beeline toward the fan - where he began yelling at them from the sidelines in a heated confrontation.

But just as Jefferson started to walk away, yet another object was thrown at him, just buzzing by his head. Jefferson went berserk and tried climbing into the stands before being pulled down and ushered into the locker room.

Marcus Smart suspended for three games after incident with fan

Marcus Smart and the 19th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys took a visit to Texas Tech and were losing late in the game when Smart clattered into a group of fans underneath the basket.

After a verbal altercation with one fan, Smart shoved him with two hands - leading to a technical foul being called.

Oklahoma State would go on to lose that game and Smart would be suspended for three games for his actions.

Reports after the game said that Smart claimed to have been the target of a racial slur by the fan. When asked about it the next day, both Smart and his coach chose not to address the issue and the fan denied it - saying he called Smart 'a piece of crap'.

Audio from the incident backed up the fan's account. 

Tie Domi fights a Flyers fan

In March of 2001, Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi was sent to the penalty box at what is now called the Wells Fargo Center in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

After getting some stick from the Flyers fans, Domi used his water bottle to spray water over the low glass and at fans to get them to calm down.

One fan, Christopher Falcone, began leaning over the glass trying to swing at Domi. The glass gave way and Falcone fell into the box - with Domi grabbing him and throwing punches.

Domi was fined, but wasn't suspended. As Domi told the 'Spittin' Chiclets' podcast, the fan sued him, the Flyers, and the league in a long drawn out process - and that he ended the lawsuits by flying Falcone and his family up to Toronto for their playoff series against Philadelphia and giving them tickets to the game.

Vancouver's Rick Rypien confronts a fan in the first game of the season

In the opening game of the 2010-11 season, Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien was led off the ice for fighting Minnesota Wild forward Brad Staubitz twice in the same game.

As he walked down the tunnel, Wild fan James Engquist yelled at Rypien and clapped in his face, saying, 'way to be a professional'.

Enraged, Rypien grabbed Engquist by his jersey before letting go and walking away.

The NHL suspended Rypien for six games and fined him $25,000 while Engquist threatened commissioner Gary Bettman that he'd be seeking legal representation.

Rypien struggled to get back in the lineup that season as he struggled with prolonged mental health issues - including clinical depression. After signing a contract with the Winnipeg Jets in the 2011 offseason, he was found dead at his home in Alberta in what was ruled a suicide. He was posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

'Malice at the Palace'

Back in November 2004, the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons were at the center of a brawl which remains the most infamous in NBA history.

The Pacers were leading 97-82 in Detroit with 45.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter when Pistons center Ben Wallace was fouled by Ron Artest and reacted by shoving him on the court.

A fight then broke out between both sets of teams as tempers flared on the night, before the madness appeared to cool down as the officials began discussing potential ramifications.

It was at this point, however, that all hell broke loose.

As he laid down on the scorer's table while waiting for an interview, Artest was hit with a drink from the stands by a fan named John Green, who was subsequently targeted by the Pacers small forward.

Artest leapt up and darted into the crowd, only to mistakenly grab another fan, Michael Ryan, and slam him to the ground after mixing him up for Green. 

More drinks and punches were thrown in the stands as chaos ensued, with the game immediately called off after a police presence was called to the Palace of Auburn Hills.

After the 'Malice at the Palace', nine players were suspended for a total of 146 games - including Artest and Wallace - with an estimated $11million lost in salaries. Five players and as many fans were charged with assault , with the supporters also handed life bans from Pistons home games.

Cantona's Kung-fu kick

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is not only remembered as a true genius with the ball at his feet, but he also remains one of the greatest enigmas to ever step foot in the Premier League.

The controversial Frenchman's most infamous outing came on January 25, 1995, after he was sent off for kicking a rival player during United's 1-1 draw away at to Crystal Palace.

As he left the field, a home supporter ran down the stairs at Selhurst Park to taunt him from the stands, which triggered one of the most astounding moments in English soccer history.

Cantona, incensed by what he'd heard from the crowd, jumped up and Kung-fu kicked the fan in an image which still defies belief to this day. 

After later admitting to a charge of criminal assault, the striker was sentenced to community service and served an eight-game ban while also paying a £30,000 ($39,000) fine.

He also sat in front of the media to address the scandal, only to pull out one of the most mysterious quotes of all time by simply saying: 'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.'

Eric Dier climbs into the stands to confront Norwich fan

After Tottenham Hotspur were eliminated by Norwich City in the 2020 FA Cup, Spurs midfielder Eric Dier climbed into the stands as his younger brother Patrick was seen in an altercation with a Norwich supporter.

Video posted to social media showed the moment the Spurs player began climbing over rows of seats to separate his brother from the fan - who was hurling abuse at Dier while he played.

Dier ended up dragging his brother away from the incident and managed to escape prosecution from Metro Police.

Tottenham's then-boss Jose Mourinho said that his player had acted in a way that 'professionals cannot' but insisted he would side with Dier.