Yankees fan Austin Capobianco, who was banned for Game 5 of the World Series after interfering with the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts the night prior, has explained the lesser-known reason why he was left ‘p***ed off’ by the punishment.
Capobianco tried to rip a ball out of Betts’ glove as the outfielder went up to catch a foul ball – causing him and a friend named John Peter who grabbed the Dodger’s arm to be ejected from Yankee Stadium.
And before the Yankees went on to lose Game 5 in a heartbreaking collapse, season-ticket holder Capobianco revealed to Newsday that even his little brother and his friends were barred from using their seats on Wednesday.
‘The banning to tonight’s game was kind of expected, but the fact my little brother and his friends can’t use our season tickets tonight has really p***ed me off,’ he wrote via text. ‘It’s not like they can go to the next game.’
Instead, the seats were occupied by a pediatric cancer patient and his family.
ESPN revealed the cancer sufferer was 15-year-old Calvin Young.
Capobianco initially said to the outlet he was told he would be able to go back on Wednesday night but that proved to be untrue as the Yankees released a scathing statement branding his and Peter’s actions ‘egregious and unacceptable.’
‘Last night two fans were ejected from Yankee Stadium for egregious and unacceptable physical contact with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts,’ the Yankees said.
‘The safety and security of players, fans and Stadium staff is the foundational element of every event held at Yankee Stadium, and it cannot be compromised
‘Tonight marks the final home game of year, and we want every ounce of our fans’ passion on display. Yankee Stadium is known for its energy and intensity, however the exuberance of supporting one’s team can never cross the line into intentionally putting players at physical risk.
Capobianco told ESPN on Tuesday night, ‘I know when I’m in the wrong and as soon as I did it, I was like, ‘Boys I’m out of here”. I patrol that wall and they know that.
‘We always joke about the ball in our area. Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We’re willing to do this.’
Meanwhile, Betts himself downplayed the incident when he spoke to reporters after his team lost on Tuesday.
‘It’s irrelevant, we lost,’ he told reporters . ‘Didn’t matter. ‘I didn’t even know he grabbed my hand, so [my hand] is perfectly fine.’
It’s reportedly unclear if Capobianco’s ban will carry into next season.
The Yankees lost 7-6 on Wednesday after leading 5-0.
